Werker, E., Department of Botany, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
Putievsky, E., Division of Aromatic Plants, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar, Haifa Post, 31999, Israel
Ravid, U., Division of Aromatic Plants, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar, Haifa Post, 31999, Israel
Dudai, N., Division of Aromatic Plants, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar, Haifa Post, 31999, Israel
Katzir, I., Division of Aromatic Plants, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar, Haifa Post, 31999, Israel

The types of glandular hairs and their pattern of distribution on leaves of Ocimum basilicum L. at different stages, were investigated. Their essential oil at the various stages was chemically analysed. The density of the glandular hairs appears to be very high on young meristematic leaves and on meristematic regions of older leaves. When the leaf regions start to expand no new glandular hairs are produced and their density decreases. The essential oil differs in the percentage of some of its components between young and mature leaf regions. © 1993 Annals of Botany Company.