Hymenaea martiana Hayne (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae) shows a great value in folk medicine in Caetité. Its bark, stem-bark and resin are used to treat various ailments. In this study, the anatomical and histochemical characterization of vegetative organs is reported. Samples were collected and processed according to usual techniques of plant anatomy and histochemistry. All organs have, by cross-sectional view, uniseriate epidermis and secretory cavities. Thick cuticle occurs in all aerial organs. The root is tetrarch. Lacunar collenchyma was found in the stem. Sclerenchymatic sheath of fibers surrounds the vascular bundles of the aerial organs. Stone cells occur in the petiole. Trichomes occur on both sides of the leaves. The leaf is hypostomatic with paracytic stomata and the mesophyll is dorsiventral. Calcium oxalate crystals occur in the stem, petiole and leaf blade. Phenolic compounds occur in the root, petiole and midrib of the leaf. Starch grains occur in the root, stem and petiole. Lipids occur in all organs. It is believed that phenolic compounds and resin secretory cavities may justify the use of medicinal species by the population of Caetité.
Caesalpinioideae; Hymenaea; Caetité; anatomy; histochemistry
