MORPHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL STUDIES OF SOME EUROPEAN VERONICA SPECIES

Introduction. The representatives of the Veronica genus have an extensive area in European Russia. They are rich in flavonoids, phenolcarboxylic acids, tannins, iridoids, and polysaccharides and therefore successfully used in folk medicine. Objective: to conduct morphological and anatomical studies of 4 Veronica species: Germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), common speedwell (Veronica officinalis), longleaf speedwell (Veronica longifolia), and bird’s-eye speedwell (Veronica persica). Material and methods. The investigation object was dried Germander speedwell, common speedwell, longleaf speedwell and bird’s-eye speedwell herb gathered in the Moscow and Kaluga Regions. The anatomical structure of the vegetative organs of еру speedwell species was studied using a LOMO Micmed-5 microscope (magnification 10×10; 10×40; 10×100). Results. The investigators identified and described the diagnostic macro- and microscopic characteristics suitable for the identification of the herb of 4 speedwell species: Germander speedwell, common speedwell, longleaf speedwell, and bird’s-eye speedwell. Conclusion. There is new evidence on the anatomic structure of the representatives of the Veronica genus, which are potential sources of biologically active compounds.