Abstract
The structure of the leaf epidermis is of interest to systematics and represents a classical direction in the ecological anatomy of plants, as the most visible responses of plants to environmental factors are manifested in the structure of the leaf epidermis. Important taxonomic features include the shape, size, and number of epidermal cells, their ratio, the structure of the stomatal apparatus, and the number and size of trichomes. Structural features of the epidermal tissue and the stomatal apparatus reflect the plant’s adaptation to environmental conditions and correlate with a complex of ecological factors. Special attention is given to species that are promising for cultivation — namely medicinal, ornamental, or food plants. Currently, plants belonging to the genus Lophanthus (Lophanthus schrenkii) are of practical interest, as they contain several groups of industrially significant secondary compounds primarily used in the pharmaceutical industry.