the anatomical characteristics of Ficus auriculata lour. and their implications for taxonomic classification within the Moraceae family

Ficus species is a source of human food worldwide due to its nutrients and medicinal potential. The present study aimed to determine the leaf anatomical and micromorphological characteristics that can be used to identify and classify Ficus auriculata. The method used in the anatomical study was sectioning of petioles, midrib, lamina, and margin using a sliding microtome and observation under a light microscope. Whereas the method used in micromorphological study was observing the adaxial and abaxial epidermal layers under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The leaf anatomical characteristics that can be used to identify plant species are such as the presence of mucilage cells, hypodermis cells, type of cystoliths, the epidermal cells of the petiole and midrib, stomata type, cuticle layer, sclerenchyma cells and cuticular striation. In addition, the number of parenchyma cell layers, number of collenchyma cell layers, mesophyll cell, type of crystal oxalate, type of trichomes, location of idioblast tannin, type of marginal outline, and type of wax have been also recorded in this study. The information obtained from this study such as three types of trichomes were identified, the presence of idioblast tannin, mucilage canals at parenchyma cortex, presence of cystolith, solitary crystals and druses at the parenchyma cortex as well as the occurrence of granules and crustose waxes at the epidermal surface can be used for the identification of Ficus auriculata.