PHYSICO-ANATOMICAL PROPERTIES OF TAMARIX APHYLLA (L.) KARST. (FRASH) WOOD GROWN IN LAYYAH IN CORRELATION WITH TECHNOLOGICAL AND WOOD WORKING PROPERTIES

Abstract

The anatomy of Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. (Frash) wood was examined in order to identify it more easily, evaluate its technological properties and determine its optimal uses. To examine the wood under a microscope, cross-sections, radial sections, and tangential sections were cut according to standard laboratory protocols. The frequency and dimensions of different wood elements/microstructures were measured. All of these characteristics suggested that Frash is significantly a medium strength wood having large vessels in abundance and fibres were reasonably longer, medium in diameter, thin-walled and wide lumened. Average diameter of vessels was found to be 6.7±1.4 millimeter and area 4299.74±1410 ?µm². Average Height and width of wood rays was calculated to be 54.2±8.3 micrometer and 159.1±18.1 micrometer respectively, which demonstrates its strong lateral transport system. The morphological characteristics of the fibres and their arithmetic ratios are also conducive to the production of pulp and paper (such as 0.709 mm fibre length and 18.64 micron fibre diameter). Wood phsico-anatomical studies suggested Frash wood is the best alternative to many other low grade woods in terms of quality, strength, and application.