Pistacia terebinthus L. leaflets:: an anatomical study

The present work describes the structural characterization of Pistacia terebinthus leaflets, focusing on changes in structure during the maturation process. P. terebinthus leaflets are characterized by the presence of: (1) abundant crystals, mainly in mesophyll cells; (2) both unicellular and glandular tri-chomes; (3) a large amount of tannins; (4) a simple epidermis covered by a thick, wrinkled cuticle; (5) anomocytic stomata lined by cuticle with an amphistomatic distribution; (6) a densely packed mesophyll, which becomes thicker as the leaflets mature; (7) a very prominent palisade parenchyma; (8) a midvein and larger secondary veins, each encircled by a sclerenchymatic sheath; (9) schizogenic ducts in the phloem tissue; (10) a leaflet margin slightly curved towards the abaxial side. As a whole, P. terebinthus leaflets show sclerophytic morphology. During leaflet maturation, the following major morphological changes were noted: (1) trichomes become scarcer, (2) the cuticle gained in thickness, (3) crystal inclusions were more abundant and (4) the mesophyll developed large intercellular spaces.