Micro-morphological Information of Carpobrotus edulis (L.) Bolus:A Southern African Herbal Plant

Background and Objective: Carpobrotus edulis has become one of the most recognized herbal plants in the Savanna Regions of Eastern Cape and Western Cape in South Africa. This study analyzed the foliar morphology and elemental composition of the plant Carpobrotus edulis (L.) bolus.

Materials and Methods: Fresh leaves of the plant were investigated using the JEOL (JSM-6390LV) Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The elemental composition of the leaf was determined by Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDXS).

Results: The epidermal surface of C. edulis was cuticularised with numerous stomata density which was more on the adaxial surface 392.7±0.2 mm2 than the abaxial surface 360.6±0.6 mm2 . Both large and small bulbous glandular trichomes were stalked above the epidermis. Mineral elements present were druses, raphides, C (37.53±0.54 wt.%), O (45.94±0.72 wt.%), Si (6.23±0.06 wt.%), Ca (24.34±0.35 wt.%) and Au (80.32±8.64 wt.%).

Conclusion: The study provides for the first time the micro-morphological information on the leaf of C. edulis L. bolus.

Keywords: Carpobrotus edulis, micro-anatomy, cuticularised stomata, glandular trichomes, epidermis and abaxial surfaces