Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) leaf. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the underside of a leaf from a common lemon balm plant, showing

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Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) leaf. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the underside of a leaf from a common lemon balm plant, showing the numerous hairs (trichomes) that cover its surface. Some of these trichomes have glandular oil 'containers' at their tips (yellow), in which the plant's essential oils are stored, which give the leaves their strong aroma. Magnification: x200, when printed 15cm wide.

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Size: 4500px × 3884px
Photo credit: © EYE OF SCIENCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, anatomical, anatomy, angiosperm, angiosperms, aromatic, balm, biological, biology, botanical, botany, close-, colored, coloured, culinary, detail, essential, false-coloured, flora, glandular, herb, herbs, ingredient, leaf, leaves, lemon, melissa, microscopy, mint, nature, officinalis, oil, plant, plants, sem, stoma, stomata, trichome, trichomes, wildlife