Anatomia comparativa dos órgãos vegetativos aéreos de distimake aegyptius (L.) A.R. Simões & Staplese Distimake cissoides (Lam.) A.R. Simões & Staples (CONVOLVULACEAE).

Abstract

In this work, anatomical descriptions of leaves and stems of Distimake aegyptius (L.) A. R. Simões & Staples and Distimake cissoides (L.) A. R. Simões & Staples, native Brazilian species of wide distribution, were carried out, in order to recognize useful characters that provide

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subsidies for identification and delimitation of taxa. Anatomical analyzes were carried out on fresh and hydrated samples, through paradermal (leaflets) and transverse sections (leaflets and stem fragments), subsequently clarified and stained with safranin and/or safrablue, observed and photographed under an optical microscope. D. aegyptius and D. cissoides share the following anatomical characters: epidermis with straight to sinuous walls, tectorial and glandular trichomes, amphistomatic leaf blade with paracytic stomata, biconvex main vein with a single bicollateral central bundle, dorsiventral mesophyll, idioblasts with drusen and the presence of secretory channels in leaves and stems. Some leaf characters were distinctive, such as the indumentum, the shape and quantity of vascular bundles on the petiole, and the type of collenchyma. The stem follows the aforementioned pattern of Convolvulaceae, with a circular outline, central cylinder with siphonostelic structure. The leaf anatomical characters of the species studied present degrees of differentiation for the diagnosis and separation of taxa, and can be used as an additional resource for taxonomic studies.