Glandular Trichomes in Satureja thymbra Leaves

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Abstract
The leaves of the aromatic plant Satureja thymbra have numerous glandular trichomes of two morphologically distinct types glandular hairs and glandular scales Investigations of the anatomy of these glandular trichomes with serial thick sections revealed that the glandular hairs consist of three cells a foot, stalk and head cell Glandular scales also have a unicellular foot and stalk Their heads, however, are composed of 12 cells Four of these cells are small, occupying the central region of the head, whereas the remainder are large and peripherally arranged Morphometric analysis showed that, in leaf surface view, glandular scales are about 17-fold larger than glandular hairs In addition, glandular scales were found to occupy 5 7 % of the entire leaf surface area In each glandular scale the total amount of essential oil, contained within both the subcuticular space and the interior of the secretory cells, was calculated to be 2 51 × 10−4 mm3 The volume of the essential oil produced by all glandular scales on a single mature leaf was correspondingly determined to be 0.059 mm3 Finally, the theoretical essential oil yield of 100 g dry leaves of S thymbra was estimated to be 3 54 % (secretory activity of glandular scales only)