Abstract
The search for relationships between anatomical and other wood properties continued in this investigation. The investigation aimed at: (1) Conducting quantitative analysis of the microstructure of five wood species grown in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, (2) Estimating the permeability of the wood species under investigation, (3) Seeking relationship between permeability and anatomical properties of wood; and determining the most important anatomical properties affecting wood permeability. To fulfil these objectives the anatomical structure of five wood species were quantitatively analyzed using stereological techniques. The five wood species comprised Casuarina glauca, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Albizia lebbeck, Tamarix aphylla and Acacia tortilis. Permeability along the grain and perpendicular to the grain as well as total absorption were also estimated for the five species. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the wood species in the majority of properties studied. Strong positive and negative correlations were found. Regression analysis showed that longitudinal permeability was affected mostly by: vessel diameter, diameter of parenchyma cells, Rankle s ratio and fiber length. Permeability perpendicular to the grain, on the other hand was affected mostly by cell wall proportion; while total absorption was affected by: vessel diameter, cell wall proportion, fiber lumen diameter and proportion of rays.