Stem wood of Croton urucurana grown in flooded, moist, and dry soil areas, were studied. Twenty-two quantitative wood anatomical features of vessel elements, fibres, axial parenchyma, and rays were analysed. The characteristics average values for each soil type were statistically compared. Soil moisture data were obtained during one year for all the areas fortnightly; water soil retention curve was also obtained for characterisation of moisture levels. Fourteen anatomical features differed statistically at level of 5% of significance, for specimens of two different places, at least regarding soil moisture. Ten features were significantly different for specimens in dry and flooded soil conditions. The frequency and the vessels diameter are larger in flooded specimens, and smaller in specimens from dry areas. The data reflects the well-known condition for specimens from dry soils; however they reveal a new fact: the frequency and vessels diameter increasing in the specimens that live in the stressing condition of flooded soils.
Croton urucurana; flooded soil; stem; wood anatomy
