Anatomy of leaf epidermal cells of some Bamboo species in the genera Bambusa, Dendrocalamus and Gigantochloa

Abstract

Anatomical structures of the leaf epidermal cells of bamboo could be used as supported information for bamboo classification to be more precisely at a species level. The samples of dried leaves were collected from Bamboo Museum in the Faculty of Forestry and National Science Museum. Fifteen species of Thai bamboo which belong to 3 genera were selected as follows : Gigantochloa ligulata, G. albociliata, Bambusa longispiculata, B. tulda, B. bambos, B. vulgaris, B. burmanica, Dendrocalamus pendulus, D. dumosus, D. copelandii, D. strictus, D. membranaceus, D. hamiltonii, D. brandisii and D. khoonmengii. The collected leaf specimens were prepared basing on standard paraffin techniques, sectioned, stained and mounted to make permanent microscope slides. The sample slides of each species were studied using compound microscope. The results showed that most of epidermis of bamboo normal epidermal cells, bulliform cell, trichomes and stomata. Various shapes of bamboo epidermis of leaves possess crystal were found scattering. Most species, upper normal epidermal cells were similar and two types of bulliform cells; sunken and raised bulliform were found. Fan-shaped silica were found in most bulliform cells of leaves possess normal epidermal cells, bulliform cells, trichomes and stomata. B. burmanica whereas no fan-shaped silica observed in on the bulliforms of D. membranaceus and D. pendulus. Trichomes were numerous and widely distributed both upper and lower epidermis of B. vulgaris but found only on the lower side of D. dumosus, D. copelandii, and D. hamiltonii. Furthermore, D. khoonmengii, D. membranaceues, and D. strictus were found thick papillae trichomes in the upper side of epidermal layer however G. albociliata was found only 2 trichomes per bulliform range throughout upper epidermis.