Anatomical Features Affecting Safranine Solution Permeability in Anthocephalus chinensis (Lam.) Rich. ex Walp.

This report describes the wood anatomy and 1% safranine solution penetration depth in radial and longitudinal directions of Anthocephalus chinensis belonging to the family Rubiaceae native to Bangladesh. The wood of this species was mostly characterized by diffuse porous, vessel with simple perforation plate, vestured alternate intervessel pittings, relatively medium vessel elements and fiber, and nonseptate fiber with distinctly bordered pits at radial wall. The body ray cell was procumbent with 2 to over 4 rows of upright and square marginal cells. Sometimes, the rays with procumbent, square and upright cells were mixed. Latewood fiber was thin to thick walled while it was very thin walled in earlywood. Axial parenchyma was diffuse, vasicentric, 5-8 cells per parenchyma strand dominantly present. Liquid penetration depth was observed in radial and longitudinal directions at moisture level of 7.42%. Longitudinal penetration was found 6.3 times higher than radial penetration. The initial penetration rate of safranine solution was high, but gradually decreased during the course of time. Different anatomical features were found to be responsible for the variation of safranine solution penetration depth compared to Gmelina arborea.