SEPARATION OF METASEQUOIA AND GLYPTOSTROBUS (CUPRESSACEAE) BASED ON WOOD ANATOMY

The wood anatomy of Metasequoia is similar to that of Glyptostrobus . Past descriptions of these woods have reported conflicting separation features. Using an increased sample size we have provided updated descriptions of these woods. We also review previously published criteria and discuss their validity. We introduce new characters (presence of ray cell separation and number of cells per square millimeter in transverse section of earlywood) and discuss the relative merit of these compared to previously described characters: arrangement of cross-field pits, features of the horizontal end walls of longitudinal parenchyma, transition from earlywood to latewood, abundance/distribution of longitudinal parenchyma, and aroma.