A bit of a larch

Images made through a microscope. All subject types.

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gpmatthews
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A bit of a larch

Post by gpmatthews »

Image
Microscope: Zeiss Standard 16
Ocular: Zeiss Kpl W 10/18
Objective: Zeiss 1.6 - 5
Brightfield
Black dots under surface of leaf are crystal clusters. See below:

Image
Microscope: Zeiss Standard 16
Ocular: Zeiss Kpl W 10/18
Objective: Zeiss 40/0.65 plan achromat
Brightfield
Showing cluster of crystal in palisade mesophyll. Does anyone know if these are calcium oxalate, or what they may be?

This is an old prepared slide, possibly 19th century/early 20th.
Graham

Though we lean upon the same balustrade, the colours of the mountain are different.

Charles Krebs
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Location: Issaquah, WA USA
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Post by Charles Krebs »

Graham,
Really nice shot of what looks to be a great old slide. It would also be great to see a shot that included only that central "hub", about 1mm wide.

gpmatthews
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Location: Horsham, W. Sussex, UK
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Post by gpmatthews »

Image

.. a bit like this?

If I go up to x10, I can't get it all in, so this is using the 1.6 - 5 objective at x5.
Microscope: Zeiss Standard 16
Ocular: Zeiss Kpl W 10/18
Objective: Zeiss 1.6 - 5
Brightfield
Graham

Though we lean upon the same balustrade, the colours of the mountain are different.

Charles Krebs
Posts: 5865
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:02 pm
Location: Issaquah, WA USA
Contact:

Post by Charles Krebs »

Yup!
I like the first shot you posted as well, but it left me wanting to see more of the detail in that central section. Very graphic and interesting shots and slide.

BJ
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Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 10:53 am
Location: England

Post by BJ »

Graham,

nice photos from a nice slide.

they are definitely calcium oxalate crystals. Larch produces them in the leaves and in the bark. There is good evidence that they form a defence against grazing beetles etc.

There is a classification system for these crystals depending on their individual shape and the arrangement of the cluster. The "flower" arrangement of your rather irregular crystals is known as a "druse".... ...this is almost certainly the most useless piece of information you will get today !!

Keep looking down,
Brian

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