Micromorphological identification of the leaves of Artemisia stolonifera and Artemisia argyi

Abstract

Abstract [Objective] The aim is to provide micromorphological data for their identification by studying the leaves of Artemisia stolonifera and Artemisia argyi. [Methods] Digital camera, optical microscope, and scanning electron microscope were used to study the characteristics of leaf veins, leaf surfaces, and powder. [Results] (1) Under strong light background, only the veins at all levels of A . stolonifera leaves could be clearly observed. (2) Glandular trichomes were only distributed on the lower surface of the leaves of A . argyi, and there were a large number of glandular trichomes on both the upper and lower surfaces of A . argyi leaves. (3) Similar to A . argyi leaves, the lower surface of A . stolonifera leaves was also densely covered with T-shaped non-glandular trichomes. There were two types of apical cells: One was a long spindle-shaped and curved apical cell, with an average length about 1 450 μm (Type-Ⅰ); the other type of apical cell was long and thin, and flat and twisted, with an average length of approximately 2 800 μm (Type-Ⅱ). (4) There were fewer calcium oxalate cluster crystals in the mesophyll tissue of A . stolonifera leaves, with a maximum of only 10 μm. [Conclusion] Results show that the micromorphological characteristics of the leaf veins and the presence or absence of glandular trichomes on the upper surface of the leaves of A . stolonifera and A . argyi can be used for rapid identification of the two leaves.

Keywords

• artemisia stolonifera
• artemisia argyi
• micromorphology identification
• glandular trichome
• leaf veins