Wood anatomy of Indian oaks, with reference to systematic, ecological and evolutionary perspectives

The present study provides a comprehensive analysis of the wood microstructure of 16 species of the genus Quercus (Fagaceae) inhabiting the Himalayan region of India. Indian oaks can be categorised into two groups: ring porous oaks and diffuse porous oaks. Most of the diffuse porous oaks were quite homogenous in their microstructure and showed only slight variations in ray cellular composition and axial parenchyma distribution. The results revealed that the current classification of Quercus is not in concordance with the wood microstructure. Instead, cluster analysis suggested that the quantitative wood microstructure of Indian oaks reflects the environmental/climatic differentiation of the eastern and western Himalayas. All the species of oaks showed a combination of both primitive and advanced wood anatomical characters.