Anatomical features of bald cypress - exotic for meliorative afforestation

Abstract

The paper deals with height and density of woody rays per mm2 by bald cypress stems at two alluvial sites in Serbia (Veliko ratno ostrvo and Bačka Palanka). Overall 6 stems (3 at one and 3 at another locality) were harvested. After that discs were made and they served for permanent anatomical preparations making. All necessary measurements were performed on these preparations. Inside each growth ring was selected 6 visible fields (3 at early- and 3 at latewood zone) and within all fields density of woody rays per mm2 was calculated. According to simple equation number of woody rays per mm2 was determined. As for height of woody rays, it was calculated by parenchyma cells counting. Researched bald cypress features were measured depending on 3 factors: cambial age, stem height and zone inside growth ring. As for relation between number and height of woody rays, there is obvious inverse - greater density of woody rays means they are shorter. The scope of the paper was to establish how height and number of woody rays per mm2 change depending on 3 observed factors - age, stem height and zone inside growth rings. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 31041: Forest plantations in function of increased forest cover of Republic of Serbia and Grant no. 37008: Sustainable management of overall forest potentials in Republic of Serbia]

Keywords

• bald cypress
• Veliko ratno ostrvo
• Bačka Palanka
• height of woody rays
• number of woody rays