Dorstenia brasiliensis Lam. (Moraceae): morphoanatomical characterization of a polymorphic species, used for medicinal purposes in Paraguay

Context: In Paraguay, Dorstenia brasiliensis Lam. (Moraceae), “taropé” is a species used for medicinal purposes, some authors consider it a polymorphic species according to the environment in which it is developed. Aim: To determine the morphoanatomy of D. brasiliensis Lam., used for medicinal purposes in Paraguay. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out. The samples were collected from three locations: from Itá Azul, Colonia Independencia; the Market of San Lorenzo and from the Acclimatization Garden of the Facultad de Ciencias Químicas of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción. Results: The following diagnostic characters were determined: rhizome with very marked short internodes, rough leaf to the touch, flowers in bisexual inflorescences, globose and verrucous seeds in the surface. Stomata restricted to the lower epidermis and in both epidermis at different times of collection; glandular hair with unicellular base and bicellular head in petiole, both epidermis of the lamina and in the central rib; short, globose, unicellular eglandular hair in lower epidermis of the lamina; long unicellular eglandular hairs, some erect and others with apex in pronounced curvature, both in lower lamina epidermis, in midrib and petiole. The dried and pulverized drug has dark green color with a marked characteristic aroma of this species. Conclusions: The morphoanatomical characteristics of the D. brasiliensis samples from the three collection sites were determined, coinciding the results between them and constituting elements of diagnosis, for the correct identification and quality control of this plant drug.