Abstract:

The anatomical structure of vegetative organs of Scutellaria amoena was studied by anatomy and fluorescent microscopy approaches. Results show that the primary xylem is diarch. The Casparian strip and starch grain can be clearly observed in the primary structure.  The distribution of prothenchyma is beside the vascular bundle of the stems and leaves. The prothenchyma groups in the more mature stem tissue are arranged into a ring. And the study of histological lacalization of flavonoids which has used the method of histochemistry shows that the pericycle and phloem in perennial root, and the parenchyma cells of epidermal and cortical in the stem and leaf, are the places where flavonoids is mainly accumulated. And the histochemistry results demonstrat that the color of relevant tissues in roots is deeper than in stems and leaves. The difference of anatomical structure between S.amoena and S.baicalensis is also discussed. The result shows that the mixed groups of prothenchyma are arranged in a relatively small area, but not into a ring in S.baicalensis. The thickening of the cell wall is not strongly. Prothenchyma is not found in the leaf of S.baicalensis, and the difference of histochemistry between these two shows that the content of flavonoids in S.amoena is higher than that in S.baicalensis. Therefore it is necessary to strengthen the comprehensive development and utilization on the endemics species S.amoena.

Key words: Scutellaria amoena, Structural botany, Histochemistry, Flavonoids, S.baicalensis