Interprofessional Journal of Health Sciences. Vol.14 No.1 , January - June 2016.

CHARACTERISTICS AND NUMBER OF TRICHOME OF LEAVES FROM SELECTED CASSIA SPP. IN THAILAND
 

Anusara Sihanat, Kanchana Rungsihirunrat, Chanida Palanuvej, and Nijsiri Ruangrungsi

Abstract

The genus Cassia L. belong to the Caesalpiniaceae family. Most of plants in this genus have been widely used as herbs, foods and ornamental plants for a long time. This study aimed to investigate the trichome number of leaves for identification of selected Cassia spp. Sixteen species of Cassia found in Thailand were employed in this study. Leaf trichome number was observed under the light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For each species, fresh mature leaves were collected from three different areas. Thirty observation fields were detected and the number of trichome was counted per 1 mm² area. Mean, minimum, maximum and standard deviations were calculated and discussed. The trichome characteristics of investigated Cassia spp. were uniseriate, uni- or multicellular non-glandular and multicellular glandular types. However, trichome in some Cassia spp. was absent. Cassia javanica L. has the highest trichome number in both dorsal (78.94±2.86) and ventral (127.39±2.46) surfaces of the leaf whereas Cassia surattensis Burm. f. has the lowest trichome number only on ventral (3.46±0.80) surface. Among 16 Cassia spp. can be classified into three major groups based on the presence of trichomes on leaf surfaces. The first group, the trichome was present on both dorsal and ventral surfaces (10 species). The second group, the trichome was present on ventral surface (three species). The last group, the trichome was absent. In conclusion, trichome number is a useful tool for identification of selected Thai Cassia spp.

Keywords: Cassia, trichome number, characteristics of trichome

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