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Planta Med 1993; 59(1): 86-89
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-959612
Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Filament Bundle of Mentha piperita

F. Amelunxen, F. Inlert
  • Institut für Pharmazoutische Biologie der Universität Kiel, D-2300 Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany
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Publication History

1992

1992

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Bundles consisting of 6 to 8 parallel filaments (6 nm thick) are localized in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus - particularly in mesophyll cells and in 3-celled capitate glandular hairs, but not in the 10-celled glandular peltate hairs of the leaves of Mentha piperita. They are present in as yet 8 investigated species of the genus Mentha, but not in 8 further genera of the Lamiaceae. The bundles are therefore genus-specific; they consist of protein only. A possible connection with the production of essential oil is discussed.

Key words

Mentha species - filament bundle - glandular trichome - propagation of filament bundles - pronase