shati :

Cultivated plant in a herb garden in India Photograph by: J.M.Garg

Morphology:

Leaf simple, opposite, elliptical or ovate, petiolate, petiole 6 to 12 mm long and pubescent; lamina 3 to 6 cm long and 1 to 3 cm broad; acute or shortly acuminate; more or less pubescent on both sides, base rounded or cordate, venation reticulate; odour, unpleasant; taste, bitter and acrid.

Histology:

Leaf –

Petiole – Nearly semi circular in outline having a deep furrow, shows a single layered epidermis covered with thick cuticle; multicellular uniseriate trichomes present; cortex composed of 3 or 4 layers of collenchyma and 3 or 4 layers of thin walled parenchymatous cells with intercellular spaces; vascular bundle bicollateral, conjoint and 3 in number, one central larger and crescent shaped and 2 lateral and smaller in size; a few rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in cortical region.

Midrib – Epidermis and trichome as in petiole; epidermis followed by 2 or 3 layers of collenchyma adjacent to the lower surface; vascular bundle crescent shaped, bicollateral, conjoint and situated in centre; rest of the tissue between collenchyma and vascular bundles consisting of polygonal thin-walled parenchymatous cells with intercellular spaces, a few having rosette crystals of calcium oxalate.

Lamina – Shows dorsiventral structure; epidermis and trichome as in petiole and midrib; trichome cylindrical, consists of 3 to 6 cells nearly similar in width and variable in length, terminal cells blunt, most of them curved inwards from the leaf surface; palisade 1 or 2 layers; spongy parenchyma irregular, arranged with distinct intercellular spaces, rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in this region; stomata paracytic, present only on lower surface; palisade ratio 7 or 8; stomatal index 20 to 25, vein islet number 7 to 10 per sq. mm.

Dr Mohamed Rifas

A dual country licensed Ayurveda Physician, currently working in Dubai as Head of Ayurveda and Yoga department. He also works as visiting doctor for Dr Hassan Ayurveda Brain and Spine Specialty Hospital. He is specialized in joint issues, brain and spine related issues and gastrointestinal issues with respect to anxiety.
Doctor profile: Click here