Descrição e anatomia ecológica do xilena secundário de Eugenia inundata DC.(Myrtaceae) sob influência da inundação do lago Tefé, Amazonas.

Abstract

Phenotypic plasticity can be diagnosed by ecological anatomy, a branch of science that seeks to recognize anatomical characteristics common to a given plant formation. Itapuã beach is a peculiar area that undergoes sudden changes throughout the year. E. inundata is a shrub species that colonizes such an environment and is seasonally influenced by the flooding of Lake Tefé-Am. The anatomical analysis of the wood of this species was made aiming: (i) to test the hypothesis that the seasonal flood influences the anatomy of the E. inundata wood; (ii) describe the anatomy of the secondary xylem of that species. Three individuals were selected and histological slides of their wood were made using conventional methods in plant anatomy. The qualitative and quantitative description followed the recommendations of the IAWA (1989). For the verification of intraspecific variations, ANOVA and Tukey statistical tests were performed. The anatomical characters observed corroborate what was expected for the family Myrtaceae and the genus Eugenia, showing the high structural homogeneity of the group. The anatomical characteristics of the E. inundata wood are not diagnostic for environments with high water availability, being better related to the maintenance of the group's genetic properties. The species E. inundata can be differentiated from other species of its genus through the frequency and diameter of the vessels. The comparative analysis revealed significant differences for the frequency of the vessels between individuals 1 and 2. However, the pattern found does not reveal clear influences of the flood period under the wood anatomy of the species. From the results it is possible to infer that the species has low phenotypic plasticity, however, it is advisable to increase the sampling to endorse the results of the anatomical-environmental relations obtained here.