MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF ALCEA ROSEA LEAVES COMPARED TO ALTHAEA OFFICINALIS LEAVES

Abstract

Microscopic research of the whole and crushed Alcea rosea leaves on twenty microslides according to the method described in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Republic of Belarus was carried out. Microscopic research was carried out comparing with microslides of the whole and crushed leaves of a closely related type of a medicinal plant, being officinal, Althaea officinalis. During microscopic research anatomical and diagnostic features of Alcea rosea leaves allowing to identify this plant in the whole or crushed form were discovered and studied. The main of them are the structure of epidermis, types of stomatal apparatus, structure of hairs, localization and types of calcium oxalate inclusions. Anatomical and diagnostic features of the whole and crushed leaves of Althaea officinalis allowing to conduct a comparative analysis with the leaves of Alcea rosea was revealed. The main features are the type and structure of the hairs, localization and types of calcium oxalate inclusions. The resulting complex of microdiagnostic signs has a broad significance for identification of plants of the Malvaceae family.