Abstract:

The wood anatomy of Hippophae rhamnoides and Elaeagnus angustifolia were described and compared from an ecological perspective. Both species showed similar wood structure: distinct growth ring boundaries, semi ring porosity, simple perforation plate, alternate intervessel pitting, non septate fibres and helical thickenings are present while axial parenchyma is absent or rarely present. Typical different characters of two species in Elaeagnaceae are ray type and width and storied structure. In H. rhamnoides, there is a distinct storied structure in rays, axial parenchyma cells and vessel elements, but irregularly storied in E. angustifolia. Rays are unito biseriate, heterogeneous in H. rhamnoides, and 2～5 seriate, homogeneous in E. angustifolia. But there were few quantitative differences observed between them. The vessel frequency is larger, vessel element length is shorter and vessel diameter is much narrower in H. rhamnoides, thus lead to a smaller vulnerability and mesomorphy value, indicating adaptive to xeric conditions. The horizontal variation of vessel element and fibre length along the ring number from pith showed irregular tendency. There are significantly difference in vessel element length and fibre length within trees and between species. Furthermore, the relationships between anatomical features and adaptability to desert environments were discussed.

Key words: desert shrubs, ecological wood anatomy, Elaeagnaceae, adaptability