WOOD ANATOMY OF DIPSACACEAE

Summary Study of two species of Pterocephalus and three of Scabiosa shows that wood of Dipsacaceae is unusual, compared with families claimed to be allied to it, in having several primitive features. All species of the present study have tracheids, rather than libriform fibers, as the imperforate tracheary element type. Vestigial perforation plates are common in Pterocephalus dumetorum secondary xylem and occur in primary xylem of all species. Wood anatomy (especially that of rays) shows that the family is probably primitively woody, perhaps shrubby. Wood features are related to the dry mediterranean‐type climates in which the species studied occur.