ACTA BIOLOGICA CRACOVIENSIA Series Botanica 47/2: 15-22, 2005

Structure of Trichomes from the Surface of Leaves of Some Species 
of Kalanchoë Adans.

Elżbieta Weryszko-Chmielewska* and Mykhaylo Chernetskyy** 

Department of Botany, Agricultural University, ul. Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland

e-mail: *ewbot@agros.ar.lublin.pl
**mczerneckyj@yahoo.com

Received June 10, 2004; revision accepted March 29, 2005

The paper presents the results of studies on the structure of non-glandular and glandular trichomes occurring on the surface of leaves of eight species of the genus Kalanchoë Adans. (Crassulaceae DC.). Stereoscopic, light and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe the length and number of trichomes on a 1 mm˛ area of both surfaces of the leaf blade, the shape and number of their cells, the content of anthocyanins or tannins in the cells, cuticle sculpture, the presence of surface waxes, and protuberances of the cell walls of the mentioned structures. Considerable differentiation of trichome structure was observed. Trichomes were divided into eight types. Four were for non-glandular trichomes: bushy three-branched type (K. beharensis Drake et Castillo, K. millotii Hamet et H. Perr., K. tomentosa Bak), peltate stellate type (K. hildebrandtii Baill.), peltate sagittal-hastate type (K. hildebrandtii, K. orgyalis Bak.), and peltate rhomboid type (K. rhombopilosa Mann. et Boit.). The remaining four were for glandular trichomes: clavate type (K. gastonis-bonnieri R. Hamet et H. Perr.), capitate type (K. beharensis, K. manginii R. Hamet et H. Perr., K. millotii), peltate type (K. millotii) and truncate type (K. orgyalis). The presence of different types of dead non-glandular and glandular trichomes on the surface of the leaves, the morphology of which was studied in the present work, may be considered an important adaptation to the conditions of the natural environment.

Key words: Kalanchoë species, leaf, trichomes, structure, adaptation.