Identification of Iranian commercial wood with hand lens

Anatomical studies of 14 commercial important tree species from Iranian Hyrcanian forest are carried out. Cross sections of wood species were surfaced and photographed, using different magnifications. Wood samples were grouped into, A- Diffuse-porous woods, including, Fagus orientalis, Acer insigne, Carpinus betulus, Alnus glutinosa, Diospyros lotus, Juglan regia, Tilia rubra, Sorbus torminalis, Prunus avium and Parrotia percia. It is shown that these species can be identified on the basis of distinct/indistinct annual growth boundaries, real/false rays, its visibility and presence and absence of axial parenchyma. B- Ring-porous woods, i.e. Ulmus glabra, Quercus castaneaefolia, Gledistschia caspica and Fraxinus excelsior. Apart from colour and texture of species, distinct/indistinct rays, vessel arrangement in late wood and presence/absence of tyloses in earlywood are the indicator characteristics on which these types of woods can be identified. Density values of above mentioned wood species belonged to both groups are also presented.