Anatomical characters of the secondary xylem in roots of Lauraceae, including 6 genera and 13 species grown in Korea, were studied systematically.
Lauraceous members studied anatomically possess characters of the secondary xylem that are in the main more specialized than those found in the primitive angiosperm families. The specialized characters are as follows; ⑴ mostly solitary pores with some radially multiples, ⑵ mostly simple perforation plates and partially scalariform perforation plates in all species, ⑶ slightly oblique end wall of vessel element, ⑷ predominantly alternate intervascular pitting, ⑸ paratracheal axial parenchyma in all species, ⑹ heterogeneous Ⅱ or Ⅲ vascular rays.
It is considered that the series of specialization in this family from the perforation plates and angle of end wall to the vessel axis is as follows; Machilus→Neolitsea→Lindera→Cinammomum→Iozoste→Litsea.
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