Leaf anatomy of Varronia polycephala Lam. (Cordiaceae)

•The V. polycephala leaf has a specific type of trichome, unprecedented for the genus.•Some anatomical traits of V. polycephala leaf may be adaptations to xeric environment.•Leaf anatomy can reveal important novelties for taxonomic studies. Varronia polycephala is a medicinal plant used as a substit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Flora. Morphologie, Geobotanik, Oekophysiologie Geobotanik, Oekophysiologie, 2020-10, Vol.271, p.151677, Article 151677
Main Authors: Demétrio, Angela M., Lusa, Makeli G., Lima, Duane F., Rodrigues, Ana Claudia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Pharmacognosy
Phenolic compounds
Trichomes
Trinca-trinca
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Summary:•The V. polycephala leaf has a specific type of trichome, unprecedented for the genus.•Some anatomical traits of V. polycephala leaf may be adaptations to xeric environment.•Leaf anatomy can reveal important novelties for taxonomic studies. Varronia polycephala is a medicinal plant used as a substitute of V. curassavica (the popular “erva baleeira”) in some traditional communities. This paper aims to describe and illustrate the leaf anatomy of V. polycephala. The results show that V. polycephala presents a distinct type of non-glandular trichome in abundance on the abaxial leaf surface, as well as a single type of glandular trichome on the same surface. Other characteristics observed in V. polycephala include non-glandular trichomes with cystoliths, crystal sand idioblasts, shape of the petiole in cross section, type of vascular bundles and ring collenchyma in the petiole. Histochemical results suggest similarities with V. curassavica, showing the pharmacological potential of V. polycephala. Possible ecological functions of structures and substances are discussed.
ISSN:0367-2530
1618-0585
DOI:10.1016/j.flora.2020.151677