Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy, and Histochemistry of Eucalyptus tereticornis

Abstract

This paper provides detailed anatomy and histochemistry of the leaves and stems of Eucalyptus tereticornis illustrated with brightfield and scanning electron microscopy. The key microscopic features that can aid in the species identification include the presence of crust-like epicuticular waxes on the leaf surfaces, platy aggregations of cluster crystals in the epidermal cells, presence of prismatic crystals in the epidermal cells, in the parenchymatous sheath in the blade and petiole, and in the cortex and pith of the stems, and leaf homogenous mesophyll consisting of palisade cells. Histochemical analyses confirmed the presence of lipophilic and phenolic compounds in the contents of secretory cavities, starch grains in the xylem parenchyma of the stem, and lignified elements in the sclerenchymatous ring adjoining the phloem and in the xylem in the leaves and stems.