LEAF SURFACE MORPHOLOGY OF ATROPA BELLA–DONNA AND OF SOME ADULTERANT SPECIES BY SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Abstract

The leaf surface morphological details of At r op a bella-donna L. and of two adulterant species (Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle and Phytolacca americana L.) have been comparatively investigated by SEM.

The presence of quite different relation patterns between cell outline and cuticular striation arrangement in Atropa bella-donna and Ailanthus altissima has been emphasized. Moreover a typical stomatal dimorphism in Ailanthus and the absence of cuticular ornamentation in Phytolacca together with the occurrence in the late species of some papillose cells on the veins, have been pointed out.

The most outstanding differences in leaf surface morphological details put in evidence by SEM in the species taken into account, are easily recognizable even in small fragments of unfixed, commercially available powdered leaves; this fact can assume valuable diagnostic implications.