Comparative Identification of Ajuga decumbens Thunb. from Pogostemon cablin(Blanco.) Benth / 广州中医药大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To find out evidences for the identification of Ajuga decumbens Thunb.(Jinchuangxiaocao) and Pogostemon cablin (Blanco.) Benth.(Guanghuoxiang) . Methods Fresh stems and leaves of the two species were collected and used as the samples. We used stereoscopy to observe and compare the macroscopic appearance of the original plants, and used light microscope to observe the stem cross-section, petiole cross-section, leaf epiderm and powder of the two species for microscopic identification. Results The results of macroscopic character identification showed that the petiole of Jinchuangxiaocao had narrow wing, while that of Guanghuoxiang had no narrow wing; the angles between leaf main vein and lateral vein of Jinchuangxiaocao were less than 45°, while the angles of Guanghuoxiang were more than 45°. In respect of microscopic identification, Jinchuangxiaocao had the glandular scales with multicellular head, and Guanghuoxiang had the glandular scales with one-celled head; the intercellular space and crystals were found in the cortex of Guanghuoxiang stems and mesophyll, while Jinchuangxiaocao has no such structures. Jinchuangxiaocao had diacytic and anomocytic stomata, and Guanghuoxiang only had diacytic stomata. Conclusion The appearance and microscopic differences can be used for the identification of Jinchuangxiaocao from Guanghuoxiang.