Abstract
A simple method of wood anatomical discrimination of chosenia (Salix arbitifolia) from Populus and other Salix species (Salicaceae) is proposed. The wood rays in chosenia are intermediate in their structural traits between the typical rays of Populus and Salix. The maximum number of rows of vascular-radial pores on ray contact cells in Populus species does not exceed 4, while in Salix species (including chozenia), there are cells with at least 5 rows. This is a reliable diagnostic character for demarcation between these two genera. Among Salix species, S. arbutifolia can be distinguished by the occurrence of more elongated procumbent ray cells (which are 2.1 times or more longer radially than vertically) in marginal rows. The maximum number of rows of vessel-ray pits on contact cells, the maximum radial size of cells in non-marginal rows, and the maximum vertical size of cells in marginal rows are additional diagnostic traits for discrimination of other Salix species from chosenia.