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Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS)
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Plants as Chemical Factories
These teachers' notes from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) describe how students can investigate the trichomes on the surface of vascular plants, including hairs and glandular hairs, using a microscope.
Students can use plants like thyme or sage to investigate these structures in the classroom. The activity can be used to demonstrate how plants have evolved to survive in a range of environments. The trichomes protect the plant from heat and moisture loss, whereas the glandular hairs are often defensive and secrete highly concentrated chemicals to protect against predation.
The practical can also be used to illustrate the importance of plants to industry as many of the compounds that plants produce in trichomes are used in drugs and other products. For example, Artemisia annua (Sweet Annie) secretes Artemisinin, which is the best known cure for malaria.
Key curriculum areas include: natural selection, adaptation, evolution, malaria, medicine and plants.
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