systematic wood anatomy of the Prunoideae (Rosaceae) in Taiwan

In this study, 13 species of Prunoideae plants in Taiwan were studied. The wood anatomical characters were analyzed with the cluster method to provide systematic evidence. Results showed that the general wood anatomical characters of the Prunoideae in Taiwan could be summarized as follows: growth rings distinct; vessels with a simple perforation plate and oblique end walls, intervessel pits alternate; fibrous cells with distinct bordered pits in radial wall and without septate fibers; axial parenchyma 1~3 gathered, apotracheal or scantly paratracheal; and rays both uniseriate and multiseriate, heterogeneous of types I and II. Results of the cluster analyses showed that the Taiwanese Prunoideae could be distinctly demarcated into two genera: Prinsepia and Prunus, which could be divided into 10 species. Therefore, Prunus phaeosticta var. phaeosticta and P. phaeosticta var. ilicifolia were confirmed to be the same species. Prunus takasagomontana and P. taiheiensis were proposed as being infraspecific taxa of P. transarisanensis, i.e., P. transarisanensis var. takasagomontana and P. transarisanensis f. taiheiensis, respectively. Prunus transarisanensis Hayata var. takasagomontana (Sasaki) Lu, Huang et Linn. stat. nov. is treated as a new form. In this paper, descriptions of the general features and microscopic characters of each species are presented. And a key is also provided for their identification.