HOME JOURNALS CONTACT

Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2008 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 13 | Page No.: 1713-1717
DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2008.1713.1717
Foliar Micromorphology of Felicia muricata Thunb., A South African Medicinal Plant
A.O.T. Ashafa, D.S. Grierson and A.J. Afolayan

Abstract: The foliar micromorphology of Felicia muricata (Thunb.) Nees (Asteraceae) was observed with the JEOL (JSM-6390LV) Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Both the abaxial and adaxial surfaces were characterized by anisocytic stomata which were more prevalent on the abaxial surface than the adaxial surface. The leaves have only one type of multicellular non-glandular trichomes that are long and cylindrical, tapering to a sharp point and running parallel to the leaf surface in the direction of the apices. Crystal deposits were also observed on the surfaces of the leaves near the stomata. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy-SEM shows that Na, Al, Si, and K were the major constituents of the crystal analyzed. Since no glandular trichomes were present on the leaves of this herb, the bioactive components present in this plant may be produced in some other tissues in the leaf other than the trichomes.

Fulltext PDF Fulltext HTML

How to cite this article
A.O.T. Ashafa, D.S. Grierson and A.J. Afolayan, 2008. Foliar Micromorphology of Felicia muricata Thunb., A South African Medicinal Plant. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 11: 1713-1717.

© Science Alert. All Rights Reserved