Pharmacognostic Studies of Gymnosporia Montana

Abstract

Gymnosporia Montana (Celastraceae) Leaf and Stem Were Studied For Their Pharmacognostic Characteristics. The Stem Shows Modification Into Spines With A Single Node. Leaves Exhibit A Vast Degree Of Polymorphism In Their Shape. Stomata Are Ranunculaceous. Trichomes Are Absent. A Double-Layered Epidermis, Two Layers Of Palisade Parenchyma In Both Upper and Lower Regions Of The Leaf, A Single Layer Of Epidermis On The Mid-Rib Are Noteworthy. Abundant Dark Coloring Material, Simple Starch Grains With Ill-Defined Hilum and Striatums, Calcium Oxalate Rossettes and Cluster Crystals Are Striking Features In The Leaf. Stem Shows Broken, Sclerenchymatous Pericyclic Fibres, Single, Narrow Xylem Vessels, Uniseriate Medullary Rays and Very Large Isolated, Prismatic, Squarish and Rhomboidal Calcium Oxalate Crystals. Dark Colored Material Is Seen Deposited In Most Of The Cells.