† Background and Aims Lippia scaberrima, an aromatic indigenous South African plant, with medicinal application,
potentially has economic value. The production of essential oil from this plant has not been optimized, and this
study of the chemico-morphological characteristics was aimed at determining the location of oil production
within the plant. Furthermore, the locality of other secondary metabolites important in medicinal applications
needed to be ascertained. This information would be useful in deciding the protocol required for isolation of
such compounds.
† Methods The morphology of the glandular trichomes was investigated using a combination of scanning electron
and light microscopy. Concurrently, the chemical content was studied by applying various chemical reagents and
fluorescence microscopy.
† Key Results Three types of trichomes were distinguished on the material investigated. Large, bulbous peltate
glands containing compounds of terpenoid nature are probably the main site of essential oil accumulation. Small
glands were found to be both peltate and capitate and fluorescent stain indicated the possible presence of phenolic
compounds. The third type was a slender tapered seta with an ornamented surface and uniseriate base, and evidently
secretory in nature.
†Conclusions This study linking the chemical content and morphology of the glandular trichomes of L. scaberrima
has contributed to the knowledge and understanding of secretory structures of Lippia spp. in general.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:tut/oai:encore.tut.ac.za:d1000796 |
| Date | 10 January 2007 |
| Creators | Combrinck, S, Du Plooy, GW, McCrindle, RI, Botha, BM |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | |
| Rights | Oxford University Press |
| Relation | Annals of Botany |
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