Leaf Anatomy of The Medicinal Plant Youngia Japonica (L.) DC

Leaf anatomical and micromorphological studies were accomplished on species of Youngia japonica under the Asteraceae family. In North America, people consume this wild plant as salad in their healthy diet. The whole plant is edible and eat up by people in the past during famine years. Chinese had been using this plant to cure the throat, to help to cleanse the blood, to cure diarrhea, mastitis, shingles or bruises because of the sprain. Since there is no comprehensive study for taxonomic study of Y. japonica in Kuantan yet, thus this study aims to find out and examine the leaf anatomical and micromorphological characteristics that can be used as complete guidance for the identification and additional data for the classification of species studied. The methods involved in leaf anatomy including the cross section for petiole, midrib, lamina and margin by using a sliding microtome, clearing of venation by using basic fuchsin and epidermal peel methods by using Jeffrey solution. The micromorphology of the leaf was observed under Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Zeiss Model EVO 50. The result of this study showed the characteristics of leaf anatomy and micromorphology for Y. japonica that including the type of vascular bundle, venation, stomata, wax and trichomes of the species. In conclusion, the findings of this study have shown that the anatomical and micromorphological characteristics have their taxonomic value and can be useful in identification, differentiation, and classification at the species level.