CHEMICAL ANALYSES AND BASIC WOOD DENSITY IN THE ROOT, STEM AND BRANCH PORTIONS OF BARBATIMÃO [(Stryphnodendron adstringens) Coville] FROM THE CERRADO BIOME

Abstract

The Cerrado region has been a major provider to meet the growing demand of vegetal, animal or agribusiness consumer goods. However, studies on the vegetation of this biome are still incipient and that has been preventing use of Cerrado species, whether for economic purposes or as a way of restoring and recovering devastated areas. Due to lack of information concerning species of the Cerrado biome, this study was conducted in an attempt to gather information about the chemical constitution and basic wood density of the root, stem and branch portions of Stryphnodendron adstringens, also known as ‘barbatimão’. To that end, material was collected from the root and along stem and branch portions of three specimens of barbatimão. An increasing tendency was observed in holocellulose contents in the root-to-stem and root-to-branch direction. The opposite occurred with lignin and extractive contents. The lowest ash content was found in the stem portion. Values of basic density did not differ statistically between the root, stem and branch portions.