Parámetros micrográficos foliares e histoquímica en la identificación de doce especies trepadoras medicinales rioplatenses (Argentina)

The aim of this paper was to get qualitative and quantitative leaf micrographic characters and to test chemical compounds to characterize the species in order to facilitate the identification of taxa from whole or fragmented samples of them. Fresh material was collected in the study area, and herbarium specimens (LP, LPAG) were analyzed. For the anatomical and histochemical preparations we proceeded with usual techniques for optical microscopy. Histochemical analysis to recognize starch, mucilage, lipophilic substances, and tannins were performed. The main differential micrographic features were: type, distribution and position of stomata and stoma- tal index; trichomes type and density; middle vein shapes in transection; vascular bundle type; mesophyll type; secretory structures; type of crystals and characteristics of the petiole in transection. Comparative tables and a dicotomic key using micro- graphic characters were generated as a tool for botanical quality control.