Pharmacognostical Studies on Stem of Fagonia schweinfurthii Hadidi

Fagonia is a genus of plant in the family Zygophyllaceae is represented in Egypt by 18 species but it was represented by 15 species in Boulos, 2000 and by about 167 species around Mediterranean, Asia and in the North America. Fagonia schweinfurthii (family Zygophyllaceae) is a plant of desert region. It is commonly known as dhamasa and dhamasia. It is small, spiny, erect, undershrubs, more and less grandullar; branches slander, terete, triage, glabrous. Leaves opposite, 1-3 foliate; petioles very variable in length, from 3 - 30 mm long, deeply striate, very slender; stipules 2 pairs of sharp slender thorns, sometimes exceeding 12 mm in length; leaflets linear, acute, sessile or with very short petiolules. Traditionally, the plant has been used to cure a number of ailments by the people living in desert region such as skin eruptions, in heal sores, skin diseases, anti-pyretic, in pain relief, ear infection, venereal diseases, etc. many other diseases. The present paper deals with comprehensive pharmacognostical studies on stem part of this plant, including macroscopical analysis, preliminary examination of stem powder, florescence analysis. This will help in the identification of powder drug prior using in any herbal formulations.