This work describes the anatomy of roots of Bacopa salzmanii (Benth.) Wettst. Ex Edwall and B. monnierioides (Cham.) Robinson and its adaptations to aquatic and terrestrial environments. Both species were collected in the city of Bonito and in the Pantanal (State of Mato Grosso do Sul). Adventitious roots were analyzed, from the apex to the base of the root. Tissues origin and development were emphasized. The apical meristem presents the same structure in both species and it is not significantly altered by the environmental changes. All the tissues are originated from three different layers, in the region of the promeristem. The young endodermis is meristematic and originates the cortex. The aerenchyma is abundant and the septa may contain phi thickenings. The exodermis is uniserial and composed of short and elongated cells. Root cap of both species is few developed in both environments.
Bacopa sp.; root anatomy; aerenchyma; aquatic plant
