Morphoanatomical characterization of fruit, seed and seedling of Desmodium incanum DC. (Fabaceae: Faboideae: Desmodieae) Caracterización morfoanatómica de fruto, semilla y plántula de Desmodium incanum DC. (Fabaceae: Faboideae: Desmodieae)

Desmodium incanum DC. is a herbaceous legume distributed from Canada to Central Argentina and Uruguay. It is a high quality forage and palatable for animals, its leaves are used in folk medicine and it is considered a weed of hard control. The objectives were to characterize the exomorphology and the anatomy of fruits, seeds and seedlings of D. incanum. The plant material was collected in Montecristo and Cerro Pelado (Cordoba-Argentina). The morphoanatomical analysis were performed on fruits, seeds and seedlings, including histochemical tests. The results show: loment indehiscent fruit, with phenolic compounds and crystals; reniform seed with fleshy aryl and epihilum, embryo axial type, subtype curved; typical anatomy Faboideae seed with piriform tracheid bar; phaneroepigeal seedling germination of Macaranga and Sophora morphological types, photosynthetic cotyledonary leaves, opposite protophyll, the first nomophylls are simple, crystals in epidermis and in the parenchyma of the epicotyl. We present the particularities of eglandular and glandular trichomes and their distribution pattern in the studied organs. The results are compared with those cited for other species of the genus, from other tribes or family in general. Original data were accompanied by photographs that will allow to recognize this species in the studied stages.