Abstract

OLIVEIRA, Virginia del Carmen  and  BASTOS, Esther Margarida. Morphological and anatomical aspects of the leaf of Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. (Asteraceae) as regards to the identification of the botanical origin of propolis. Acta Bot. Bras. [online]. 1998, vol.12, n.3, suppl.1, pp. 431-439. ISSN 0102-3306.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-33061998000400012.

The leaf anatomy of B. dracunculifolia, in different developmental stages, was studied, with the purpose of characterizing the secretory structures that can be used as indicators for determining of the botanical origin of propolis produced by Apis mellifera. The material was collected in the Municipal district of Jaboticatubas, Minas Gerais State, where experimental hives were installed. The studied species are characterized by having the surface of the youngest leaves densely covered by glandular and non-glandular trichomes. The glandular trichomes are abundant in the early stages of leaf growth and uncommon in mature leaves. The mature leaf is amphistomatic. The mesophyll consists of palisade cells, scarce spongy parenchyma and secretory ducts associated to the phloem. The leaf fragments, stomata, glandular trichomes and non-glandular trichomes present in propolis samples are similar to those found in B. dracunculifolia leaves.

Keywords : Baccliaris; leaf anatomy; propolis.