Research on micromorphology of leaf epidermis of three species of Vetiveria zizanioides

The leaf epidermal characters of 3 species of Vetiveria zizanioides were observed and compared under light and scanning electron microscopes.The results showed that leaf epidermis consisted of long cells,short cells,stomas,micro-hairs,prickle-hairs,macro-hairs and mastoid process.The long cells were rectangle,with shallow or deep wavy anticlinal walls.The short cells has dumbbell,cruciform and nodular types.The stomata were tandem and triangular or dome shaped subsidiary cells.The leaves distributed ad-and abxially epidermis of micro-hairs and mastoid process.The lower epidermis also have prickle-hairs and macro-hairs.The leaf epidermal were covered with thick cutin and strip upheaval.The study could clarify that the same characteristic of microstructure of cotyledon epidermis of V.zizanioides,and the difference in species,so it could provide morphological evidence for stress resistance and taxonomy.