PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION OF LEAF OF LIMNOPHILA RUGOSA ROTH. MERR. (SCROPHULARIACEAE)

The plant, Limnophila rugosa (Roth.) Merr. (Scrophulariaceae), is being used by the tribal people of Odisha as Bhringaraja, for the preparation of hair oil. Detailed pharmacognostical investigation on any part of this plant is lacking. The present paper deals with the detailed morphological and microscopical characters of its leaves, following standard procedures. The major microscopic characters noticed in the leaf are presence of anomocytic stomata in both the lower and upper epidermis of lamina and simple and glandular trichomes. Cluster and prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate in the parenchymatous cells of the ground tissue and mesophyll cells of the lamina were also noticed. An extra rudimentary vascular bundle is found to be located adjacent to one of the terminal end at the meristele of midrib. This study will be helpful for correct identity of L. rugosa .