Various species of Calea are considered medicinal and several investigations have been carried out to identify relevant chemical substances in the genus, however, few studies have dealt with morpho-anatomical aspects. This work aimed to analyse the morphological characters of the leaf and stem of Calea uniflora Less., in order to contribute for the species identification. The plant material was prepared according to usual light and scanning microtechniques. The blade has uniseriate epidermis coated with thin and striate cuticle. Anomocytic and anisocytic stomata are seen on both surfaces, as well as glandular and non-glandular trichomes. The latter is pluricellular and uniseriate, with acute apex. The glandular trichomes are pluricellular and multiseriate or capitate and located in epidermal depression. The mesophyll is isobilateral, and the midrib is biconvex and traversed by a collateral vascular bundle. The stem shows circular transection and uniseriate epidermis, with trichomes similar to the leaf. Angular collenchyma and chlorenchyma alternate in the cortex, perivascular fibres adjoin the phloem, the vascular arrangement is collateral and the pith consists of parenchymatic cells. Secretory ducts are associated with the vascular system of the leaf and stem.
Asteraceae; Calea uniflora; morpho-anatomy
