The usual herbalized material processing techniques are limited due to the difficulties to produce permanent slide collections, and to register permanent results. In studies of taxonomy-applied anatomy, it is often necessary to use herbarium specimens. The objective of this study was to test methacrylate (Historesin, Leica) in the preparation and inclusion of herbalized materials to obtain a permanent slide collection. Herbalized leaves from the genus Senecio Tourn. ex L. (Asteraceae) were used, after being submitted to re-dehydration in ethanol 70%. The samples were dehydrated in an ethanol series and submitted to a mixture of AE 95% plus pure resin (1v:1v). The embbeding process in pure resin was submitted to a vaccum during 72 hours. The blocks were cut in an automatic progress microtome, using disposable steel razors and the cuts stained with Toluidine Blue pH 4.0. The slides were mounted in Permount. The permanent slide collection obtained showed high quality, compared with those obtained by the usual techniques, because the cuts were seriate; cut thickness could be determined allowing the use of few samples for the analysis of the material.
Plant anatomy; taxonomy; herbalized specimens; permanent slides; Senecio
