Caracterización anatómica de cuatro especies forestales, procedentes del cantón Santo Domingo parroquia Alluriquín sector El Pilatón.

Abstract

The objective of this research was to characterize dendrologically and anatomically four forest species from Santo Domingo canton, Alluriquín parish, in the Pilatón sector. To describe dendrologically the four species, aerial samples were collected to be identified in the Herbarium of the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. To determine the macroscopic characteristics, the samples were sized at 6 x 12 x 2 cm, in which characteristics such as odor, flavor, brightness, veining, texture, and grain were identified and observed. For the microscopic samples, 2 x 2 cm cubes were obtained, these were subjected to a softening process in the autoclave at a temperature of 121 °C, at a pressure of 1.1 atm, with a different number of cycles due to the hardness of the wood of each species. Histological sections of the transverse, longitudinal and radial part were made in the microtome with a thickness of 0.3 microns. These were stained with safranin, astra blue and a combination of safranin/Astra blue (50/50%). It was Astra blue over a time period of ten seconds that allowed the highest number of pores to be counted. The number of pores recorded in each specie did not show significant differences, therefore, each wood presented different anatomical characteristics. The organoleptic characteristics of the studied species, are different, only three of the four presented species have similar characteristics, the only difference is that they vary in color of the sapwood-heartwood, odor, brightness, texture and grain. Regarding the flavor and grain, three species presented the same characteristics, only Myrcia fallax presented a sweet flavor.