EPIDERMAL CHARACTERS OF BACCHARIS (ASTERACEAE) SPECIES USED IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

Abstract

A morphological study of 38 species of Baccharis used in traditional medicinewas carried out to provide some epidermal characters that will contribute to theknowledge of the genus. The present study revealed: 1) seven different types oftrichomes: conical, aseptate fl agellate, fi liform fl agellate, 1-armed, 2-4-armed,bulbiferous fl agellate, and glandular biseriate; 2) that 28 of the total of 38 specieshave trichomes in tufts; 3) six different types of stomata: anomocytic, anisocytic,cyclocytic, actinocytic, tetracytic, and staurocytic; 4) that some trichome types,such as 2-4-armed (B. dracunculifolia) and aseptate fl agellate branched (B. trinervis),show a high diagnostic value; 5) that the stomata types can be used to differentiatespecies with similar trichomes type (e.g. B. trimera and B. articulata).Illustrations of the studied characters are provided.