Resumo A Mata Atlântica é considerada um hotspot de biodiversidade devido à sua excepcional riqueza de espécies, endemismo e perda de habitat. Embora seja protegida por lei desde 2006, a extração de madeira comercial, a silvicultura e a agricultura representam ameaças a Mata Atlântica e a supressão florestal continua a ocorrer e grandes volumes de madeiras da Mata Atlântica são comercializados todos os anos. Para promover a conservação ambiental e prevenir a extração ilegal de madeira, a verificação das espécies pelos órgãos de supervisão, comerciantes e até mesmo pelos consumidores, é fundamental em várias etapas da cadeia de suprimento de madeira. A análise macroscópica da anatomia da madeira tem se mostrado um método eficiente de triagem, embora sejam necessárias ferramentas para agilizar a eficiência desse processo. Apresentamos aqui uma chave de identificação interativa para árvores da Mata Atlântica, baseada em características macroscópicas da madeira, que está disponível online em http://gbg.sites.uff.br/lamad/.

Abstract The Atlantic Forest is considered a biodiversity hotspot because of its exceptional species richness, endemism, and habitat losses. Commercial logging, industrial forestry, and agriculture represent threats to the Atlantic Forest, and even though it has been protected by law since 2006, forest suppression continues and large volumes of Atlantic Forest wood are traded every year. To promote environmental conservation and prevent illegal logging, the verification of wood species’ identifications is fundamental throughout several stages of the wood supply chain by supervisory bodies, traders, and even consumers. Macroscopic wood anatomy analysis has been shown to be an efficient method for screening, although tools to streamline the efficiency of that process are necessary. We introduce here an interactive identification key for Atlantic Forest tree species, based on standard wood macroscopic features that is now available online at http://gbg.sites.uff.br/lamad/.

ABSTRACT Fire disturbance affects the composition, structure and dynamics of vegetation. Historical records of fire events exist in some places, but they are generally limited in temporal and spatial extent. Tree-ring research is a useful tool for fire history reconstruction and can contribute important long-term ecological data. We tested the hypotheses that Moquiniastrum polymorphum (Less.) G. Sancho, a widespread species in Brazil that occurs in burnt areas of Atlantic Forest, produces annual growth rings and that its wood can record fire incidence by datable fire scaring. Our results corroborate these hypotheses and indicate that the species has potential for fire history reconstruction.

ABSTRACT The tree Piptadenia gonoachantha is widely used in forestry and in forest restoration projects, which require methods for evaluating tree growth. Long-term studies are necessary to determine patterns and detect changes in species growth rhythms. Tree ring analysis provides a precise method for determining age and documenting long-term growth trends in tropical tree species. The present study evaluated the periodicity of tree ring formation and radial growth dynamics of P. gonoachantha from a population of known age in the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve. Two radii from six trees were sampled using non-destructive methods. Tree rings were counted and measured to estimate age and to calculate diametric increment. All samples had 16 tree rings, which matched the known plantation age and confirmed the annual formation of rings. The individuals sampled had a mean annual diametric increment of 9.5 mm / year. Results showed a trend towards decreasing growth rate with increasing age. Individuals of P. gonoachantha in Ombrophilous Dense Forest produce annual tree rings, which holds potential for future dendroecological studies.

Lianas são importantes componentes estruturais das florestas tropicais, apesar disso a anatomia destes vegetais é pouco estudada. A família Leguminosae é relatada como a segunda maior em número de espécies de lianas, contudo pouco se conhece da diversidade anatômica das lianas desta família. O presente estudo descreveu e analisou a anatomia do lenho de oito espécies de lianas da família Leguminosae, ocorrentes no Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, localizado no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, região Sudeste do Brasil, local inserido no bioma Floresta Atlântica. As espécies apresentaram características comuns ao hábito liana, como: elementos de vaso com diâmetro elevado, com duas categorias de diâmetro; e maior proporção de parênquima axial em comparação às fibras. Quatro espécies do gênero Senegalia apresentaram variações cambiais produzidas por um único câmbio, normal em produto mas anormal em conformação. A anatomia do lenho das espécies estudadas é muito semelhante por compartilharem o mesmo hábito e pertencerem à mesma família. Apesar disso, as oito espécies estudadas puderam ser diferenciadas. As espécies com variações cambiais e Dalbergia frutescens são facilmente diferenciadas das demais. Contudo Senegalia tenuifolia, Piptadenia micracantha e Piptadenia adiantoides necessitam ser examinadas com muita cautela para identificá-las exclusivamente pela anatomia do lenho.

Lianas are important structural component of tropical forests and even though the anatomy of these plants is poorly studied. Leguminosae family is reported as the second larger family in number of liana species, but little is know about the anatomical diversity of lianas from this family. The present study described and analyzed the wood anatomy of eight liana species of Leguminosae family, from Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, located in Rio de Janeiro State, Southeast region of Brazil and included in Atlantic Rain Forest Biome. The species show common features with the liana habit, as: wide vessels, vessel dimorphism, and high proportion of parenchyma when compared with fibers. Four species of Senegalia genus showed cambial variants made by a single cambium, normal in products but abnormal in conformation. The studied species have similar wood anatomy, many of which are because they belong to the same family and share the same habit. Nevertheless, the eight species studied could be distinguished. The species with cambial variants and Dalbergia frutescens are easy distinguished from the others. However Senegalia tenuifolia, Piptadenia micracantha and Piptadenia adiantoides require much wariness examination to identify the species exclusively by wood anatomical features.