DIAGNOSE MORFOANATÔMICA DE AROEIRA (Schinus terebinthifolius RADDI, ANACARDIACEAE)

The family Anacardiaceae is pantropical and includes species valued as food, ornamental and medicinal. Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, known as Brazilian pepper tree, has leaves and stem bark traditionally prepared as expectorant, antiseptic, astringent and wound healing. Aiming to present useful data to morpho-anatomical diagnosis, this work has analysed macro and microscopic characters of the leaf and stem of this medicinal plant. The botanical material was identified, fixed, sectioned and stained according to standard microtechniques. Scanning electron microscopy was also carried out. The leaves are alternate, compound, imparipinnate, often with nine or eleven leaflets. The epidermal cells are polygonal and coated with a striate cuticle. Anomocytic stomata occur on the abaxial side. Unicellular non-glandular trichomes, multicellular capitate glandular ones, a sub-epidermal layer and dorsiventral mesophyll are present. The midrib, the rachis and the petiole are alike and traversed by various collateral bundles in centric arrangement. Secretory canals are associated with the vascular system. In the stem, the phellogen is formed superficially. It is encountered stone cells and fibres in the cortex, phloem cylinder external to the xylem and secretory canals in the phloem and pith. Idioblasts containing crystals are seen in the leaf and stem.