Anatomical, Biometrical, Physical and Chemical properties of wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis L.) (Case study: Sangdeh forests of Mazandaran)

Fundamental studies in wood of trees and shrubs can reveal the possibility of their utilization in various applications or lead to create a database of different wood species. Wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis L.) is a rare and valuable tree species in Hyrcanian and Arasbaran forests. This study were investigated some anatomical, biometrical, physical and chemical properties of wild service wood. Wood samples were cut from Sangdeh forests of Mazandaran. Studies have shown that wild service tree is extremely compact and dense; its average density is 832 kg m-3 and its shrinkage is about 16%. Growth rings boundaries are indistinct. From anatomical view, it is a diffuse-porosity wood and its vessels are exclusively solitary, long (999 microns), narrow (55 microns) and are not visible with naked eye in transverse section. Growth ring boundaries can be distinguished by only two to three compact fiber layers. Rays parenchyma is heterogeneous, exclusively 2-seriate (partially uniseriate). The fibers are of vascular tracheids type with an average length and cell wall thickness of 1575 and 9.33 micron, respectively. The content of cellulose, lignin, extractives and ash were 49.8, 18.9, and 2.3 percent, respectively. Preservation of valuable tree species of the northern forests such as wild service tree should be on the agenda of natural resource custodians.