THE POSSIBLE FUNCTION OF BUTTRESSES IN CARYOCAR NUCIFERUM (CARYOCARACEAE) IN GUYANA - ECOLOGICAL AND WOOD ANATOMICAL OBSERVATIONS

This paper describes the microscopic structure and morphology of stem and but-tresses of swamp-grown Caryocar nuciferum L. and discusses the function of buttresses. Buttesses are mainly found at the opposite si de of the leaning direction of a tree and thus could function as tensi on members. In contrast to the stem wood, which exhibits a moderate am ount of tension wood fibres with a gelatinous layer, the wood of the b uttresses on the tension side and the compression side of the leaning tree is characterised by thick-walled tension wood fibres. In addition , the number of vessels in the buttresses is substantially higher than that in the stem wood. The preferential direction of the buttresses a nd the anatomical differences in the various parts of the tree are dis cussed.