Cyperus articulatus L., known as priprioca, cultivated in the State of Pará for the extraction of essential oil from its underground system, is used in the confection of cosmetics. Considering the importance of this species, a morpho-anatomical study was proposed, aiming to support taxonomic and pharmacognostic studies. The botanical material was collected in the experiment at Belem, from the community of Boa Vista, Acará. In the laboratory, the vegetative organs were measured and fixed for anatomical study. The morphological study identified: a 79 in - 1.6 m x 3 - 8 mm cylindrical stem; a 5 - 8 cm x 5 - 7 mm cylindrical stoloniferous rhizome interrupted by 1 - 3 in diameter spherical tubercles, from which 3 - 8 in long tuberous roots originate; 14 - 27 x 1 - 2 cm aciculate and sessile basal leaves. In the anatomy of these organs, in cross section, the root, rhizome and tuber are divided into lining, cortical and vascular regions. However, the root presents these structurally distinct regions, which are: lining of irregular cells; cortex with 3 forms of parenchyma, fibers and endodermis; and vascular region with pericycle, sclerenchyma and vascular elements there the rhizome and tuber are lined by rectangular cells; cortex with sclerenchyma, endodermis and parenchyma, where the oil cells occur; and the vascular region with parenchyma and amphivasal vascular elements. The thatch is lined by irregular epidermal cells, some siliceous; and the rest of the organ by parenchyma with the vascular elements. The hypostomatous leaf is covered on both surfaces by tabular epidermal cells and siliceous cells, the mesophyll consists of parenchyma cells, aerenchyma and vascular elements. Through the results obtained, it is concluded that the rhizome and tuber are the most suitable organs for the extraction of essential oil, which scientifically supports the popular use of the underground system.
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