Nanotubules on plant surfaces: Chemical composition of epicuticular wax crystals on needles of Taxus baccata L.

Various sampling protocols were employed to study the chemical composition of yew needle waxes with high spatial resolution. GC-MS analyses of the resulting preparations provided direct evidence that the tubular wax crystals on the needle surfaces contained high percentages of alkanediols and nonacosan-10-ol on the abaxial and adaxial surfaces of the needles, respectively.