The value of root and rhizome anatomy for the taxonomic characterisation of 59 species classified into 34 genera and 12 subtribes from the Asteraceae tribes Cardueae and Cichorieae was assessed. In addition, the evolutionary history of anatomical characters was reconstructed using a nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence-based phylogeny of the Cichorieae. Taxa were selected with a focus on pharmaceutically relevant species. A binary decision tree was constructed and discriminant function analyses were performed to extract taxonomically relevant anatomical characters and to infer the separability of infratribal taxa, respectively. The binary decision tree distinguished 33 species and two subspecies, but only five of the genera (sampled for at least two species) by a unique combination of hierarchically arranged characters. Accessions were discriminated—except for one sample worthy of discussion—according to their subtribal affiliation in the discriminant function analyses (DFA). However, constantly expressed subtribe-specific characters were almost missing and even in combination, did not discriminate the subtribes. Most anatomical characters showed at least some degree of homoplasious evolution limiting their suitability as phylogenetically informative characters.

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Light microscopy is an important method for identity and purity control of biological crude drugs. This chapter gives an introduction in the necessary techniques starting with some background information of physical optics used in microscopy, and an instruction in the equipment being needed for accurate analyzes. Besides the technical knowhow, a detailed knowledge of plant anatomy is crucial for evaluating the identity and quality of botanical raw material. Without familiarity of histology, tissue elements and cell forms, a proper microscopic analyzes is impossible. Thus, a description of important anatomical structures is given, along with some guidance concerning the examination of crude drug materials and their preparation for microscopic analyzes: What are the standard criteria for the characterization of drugs? How can one recognize the correct type of the plant organ in hand? And how does one get accurate microscopic slides resp. pictures from the drug in question? These questions and others are attempted to be answered.