Background: The wood of species that grow in arid zones is characterized by ring porosity, grouped vessels, tracheids, and thick-walled fibers that allow species to respond to environmental pressures. Hypotheses: The woody species of the shrubland in Sierra de Ju & aacute;rez will exhibit anatomical wood characteristics associated with the xeromorphic environment. Thus, we described their wood traits and compared with those reported in two other shrublands. Studied species: Thirty-two species belonging to 23 families. Study site and dates: Sierra de Ju & aacute;rez, Chihuahua, Mexico. 2020-2024 Methods: Samples were collected from three individuals per species and processed using conventional wood microtechnique. A cluster analysis allowed for the identification of groups based on their similarity. Results: Fifteen species were described in their wood for the first time. The presence of growth rings, ring porosity, thick-walled fibers, and heterocellular rays predominated. The cluster analysis indicated that the quantitative characteristics of the rays are important to group species and probably these rays compensate the scarce axial parenchyma. Juniperus osteosperma was the only gymnosperm that distinguished itself by its wood with tracheids and short uniseriate rays. Conclusions: The anatomical characteristics of the wood shared by the species despite their taxonomic diversity are interpreted as anatomical convergences associated with the environment or habit. The woods of the Sierra de Ju & aacute;rez show greater similarity to the California shrublands in the United States than to those of Tehuac & aacute;n, Puebla, Mexico.