Interprofessional Journal of Health Sciences. Vol.13 No.2 , July - December 2015.

LEAF CONSTANT NUMBERS OF SELECTED CASSIA SPECIES IN THAILAND

Anusara Sihanat, Nijsiri Ruangrungsi, Chanida Palanuvej, Piyarat Parinyapong Chareonsap, and Kanchana Rungsihirunrat

Abstract

Plants in genus Cassia (family Caesalpiniaceae) were used as ornamental, food and traditional medicine in several countries.  Due to the similar morphology and vernacular name, the identification of their species is perplexed.  This study aimed to investigate the constant value of microscopic characteristics of leaf including trichome characteristic and trichome number, stomata type and stomatal number and palisade ratio of four Cassia species in Thailand (Cassia bakeriana Craib, Cassia fistula L., Cassia grandis L.f. and Cassia javanica L.).  The results showed unicellular and multicellular trichome, non-glandular trichome presented on both dorsal and ventral epidermis together with paracytic type of stomata presented on ventral epidermis in all plants samples.  The highest trichome number on both dorsal, ventral epidermis and stomatal number were found in C. javanica (78.94±2.86, 127.39±2.46, 466.93±12.04, respectively) while the highest palisade ratio was found in C. bakeriana (10.48±0.87).  In conclusion, leaves constant number can be used for the species identification of genus Cassia.

Keywords: Cassia, Caesalpiniaceae, trichome number

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