Anatomia foliar como ferramenta para a taxonomia em duas espécies de Adenium Roem. & Schult. (Rosas-do-deserto) e seu potencial para o ensino de botânica.

Abstract

Two species of Apocynaceae, Adenium, were studied with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the leaf anatomy of the genus and identifying anatomical structures to aid in the taxonomy of the species; in addition to preparing didactic material to support botany classes in high school. The species studied have a uniseriate epidermis, anomocytic stomata, simple tector trichomes and a collateral vascular system in the cross section of the midrib and paradermal view. Adenium species have uniseriate epidermis, striated cuticle, anomocytic stomata, collateral central vascular unit, and dorsiventral mesophyll in cross section and leaf paradermal view. The mesophyll is located on the back of the body. Some anatomical characteristics of the Adenium species studied here, mainly the foliar ones, are frequently mentioned as strategies that can contribute to resistance to conditions of high temperature, light and water stress. The striated cuticle, the epidermis with tall cells, the compact mesophyll and the presence of crystalliferous idioblasts that are found in the cells of the spongy and spongy palisade parenchyma, also known as drusen. Anatomical data aid in future taxonomic approaches for Adenium.