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Abstract:In this work, a morpho-anatomical study of the leaves, stems and roots of Solanum torvum Sw. was performed with the objective of providing a macroscopical and microscopical morphodiagnosis for its characterization. The species is popularly called "jurubeba-branca" in the Northeastern Brazil and is used in folk medicine to treat liver diseases, tuberculosis, and as antianemic. Anatomical studies were done by paradermic sections of the leaf blade (adaxial and abaxial surfaces), and cross sections of leaves (blade and petiole), stems and roots. The sections were clarified and stained with safranin and/ or astrablue, observed and photographed on light microscope. Histochemical tests were carried out in cross sections of leaves, stems and roots and assayed for specific reagents. The leaves are chartaceous, ovate to elliptic, with lobed margins, oblique at the base. The leaf is amphistomatic with anisocytic and anomocytic stomata simultaneously, and the epidermal cells, in face view, have anticlinal walls sinuate on the upper surface and wavy on the lower surface. The mesophyll is dorsiventral; the midrib has a central bicollateral vascular bundle; and the petiole has three or fourone. The stem shows external phloem, xylem, internal phloem and a parenchymatic pith. The root is axial and striate longitudinally and the secondary xylem is a massive cylinder. The macroscopical and microscopical vegetative characters constitute a set of diagnostic parameters to the studied species.

Micromorphological studies were carried out using multiple microscopic techniques on the leaves and stem bark of Byrsonima sericea DC. (Malpighiaceae), a species popularly known as “murici” and used medicinally, in order to identify both qualitative and quantitative features of leaf and stem anatomy and histochemistry as differential parameters to support both the quality control of its ethnodrugs and the taxonomy of the genus. The study was conducted using traditional techniques of plant anatomy, histochemical tests, and the stomatal index (SI). Byrsonima sericea has hypostomatic leaves, anomocytic stomata, and its epidermal walls are anticlinal and straight on the adaxial and curved on the abaxial faces. T‐shaped trichomes were observed mainly on the abaxial surface. The leaf epidermis showed waxes syntopism on both surfaces, with the occurrence of different crystalloid forms on a single phylloplane. The mesophyll is dorsiventral, with 3‐4 collateral vascular bundles. Phenolic compounds, starch, and proteins were identified in the petiole and stem. The SI was 14.5 ± 0.53% (p < .05), but did not showed significant variations. A set of characters were found to be distinctive for the studied species, however, constituting parameters that could be used to separate B. sericea from other species of the genus.

To evaluate their taxonomic significance, the yet unknown epidermal characters of the leaves of 10 species of Solanum section Torva Nees (Solanaceae) from Brazil were determined using light and scanning electron microscopy. Our results indicated that the leaf epidermis showed epidermal cells of straight to wavy outlines. The curved pattern of anticlinal cell walls was predominant on the adaxial surface, and the wave pattern was predominant on the abaxial surface. Leaves are amphistomatic in six species ( Solanum acutilobum Dunal, Solanum bonariense L., Solanum guaraniticum A. St.-Hil., Solanum metrobotryon Dunal, Solanum scuticum M. Nee, and Solanum torvum Sw.) and hypostomatic in four species ( Solanum adspersum Witasek, Solanum paniculatum L., Solanum subumbellatum Vell., and Solanum variabile Mart.). Four different types of stomata (anisocytic, anomocytic, paracytic, and diacytic) were recognized, with the anisocytic type predominant on adaxial and abaxial surfaces. The combination of some micro-morphological characters such as density, distribution and type of stellate trichomes, the anticlinal walls of epidermal cells, and also the type and distribution of stomata proved to be the most useful and distinctive characters for the separation of species. This set of characters also may help as additional support in quality control of species having medicinal importance.

During studies of the genus Lycianthes as part of a taxonomic treatment for the Brazilian flora, a new species, Lycianthes bitteri Costa‐Silva & Agra, was recognized from Bahia State, which is described and illustrated here. It is member of Lycianthes subg. Polymeris and related to L. pauciflora (Vahl) Bitter and L. cearaensis Bitter, from which it differs by having petioles depressed adaxially, calyx with linear appendices in two series, radiate and widely spreading, ovary somewhat conical, and indument composed of a mix of dendritic and stellate trichomes. Information about its distribution, conservation status, and affinities with other Lycianthes species are discussed. Additionally, four new synonyms and a lectotypification are proposed, and a key to all Brazilian Lycianthes species is presented.