#14: Basil

This time I cut a sliver from the stem of our basil plant. You can see the little cells as well as the little horn-shaped protrusions from the sliver of stem. These are the plant hairs, or trichomes, which are responsible for the basil plant's aroma and essential oils. There are two types: glandular trichomes and non-glandular trichomes. Glandular trichomes act as oil glands and store the aromatic compounds like eugenol and linolool. Non-glandular trichomes are physical barriers against pests and insects, and they also help regulate leaf temperature.

Next time, I'd like to try staining the plant tissues to see nuclei, cellulose deposition, lignin deposition, and more!