Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeisch (Asteraceae), commonly known as 'candeia-da-serra', is a plant used in folk medicine as wound healing and antimicrobial. The aim of this study was to compare the number of glandular trichomes between the young and the mature leaves, as well as to perform the morpho-anatomical characterization of E. erythropappus leaves. Transverse and paradermal sections of the leaves were prepared according to light and scanning microtechniques for the morpho-anatomical characterization. The quantification of glandular trichomes on the adaxial surface of the epidermis was evaluated in young and mature leaves with camera lucida. The leaves are alternate or fasciculate and the blade has uniseriate epidermis coated with thin and smooth cuticle and dorsiventral mesophyll. There are predominantly anomocytic stomata on both surfaces, as well as glandular trichomes located in epidermal depressions. Various non-glandular trichomes are encountered on the abaxial surface. The palisade parenchyma consists of a single layer of cells and the parenchyma which is faced to the abaxial surface comprehends three to five layers of cells in compact arrangement. The young and mature leaves showed, respectively, 21.78±5.83 e 17.80±6.69 glandular trichomes on the adaxial side. The morpho-anatomical analysis of E. erythropappus leaves has proved to be a practical and rapid method for the identification and quality control of the vegetal species used for medical purposes.
Eremanthus erythropappus; Asteraceae; morpho-anatomy
