Stem, Leaf, And Root Anatomy Of Eclipta Alba (L.) Hassk. (Asteraceae)

The anatomical study of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk, a member of the Asteraceae family, revealed several distinctive features. The stem lacked a cortex but contained air cavities and secretory structures, with average cell diameters of 34 µm in the cortex and 92 µm in the pith. The leaf exhibited a thick cuticle on the adaxial surface and anisocytic stomata on the abaxial surface, with a dorsiventral mesophyll structure. The root had a wide cortical zone with air cavities, suggesting aquatic adaptability. The presence of secretory structures in stems and leaves was identified as a characteristic feature of the plant and the Asteraceae family.