Morphology, anatomy and histochemistry of the leaves of Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (Anacardiaceae) (Morfología, anatomía e histoquímica de las hojas de Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (Anacardiaceae).)

The “aroeira” (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemao) is a tropical tree with limited geographic distribution in South America, being found in drier formations such as the Cerrado and Caatinga. Empirically it is used with antiseptic, antiinflammatory, antiulcer, antidiarrhoeal and others. In this study we used mature leaves and expanded from the third and fourth nodes. Studies venation and morphology, anatomy and histochemistry were performed by the usual laboratory plant anatomy or the usual techniques of plant anatomy. For histochemical study of the fresh cuts various reagents and specific stains were used. The blade is elliptical leaflets with acute apex, oblique base, obtuse angle, entire margin and slightly wavy. Shows the pattern of venation featherveined, pinnate type based generally asymmetrical and oblique. The indumentum is sericeous with trichomes deciduous. The consistency of the lamina is papyracea. The cuticle of leaflets, is thinner on the lower epidermis than on the upper epidermis, palisade parenchyma with a cell layer and spongy parenchyma with three cell layers with idioblasts containing crystals of CaCO3, tector trichomes simple multicellular with two or more cells are observed on both sides of the leaflets. The histochemical analysis revealed the presence of starch granules, crystals of calcium oxalate, fatty compounds, resins, phenolics and alkaloids compounds. The structural data obtained in this study may assist in ecophysiological characterization of the species and provide evidence for the identification of herbal medicines produced from that plant organ.