Vegetable Gargoyles (Zea mays)

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 4:02 am

I was scanning a cross section of the stem of maize Zea mays when I got the feeling I was being watched

These are really water conducting vessels seen in cross section, but you must admit they look a lot like grotesque faces.

This was taken with a Wild X10 0.45 Fluotar objective on a Nikon Diaphot microscope. This is a short barrel objective and requires an extender to reach focus, but is of excellent optical quality. Polarised light single unstacked image.

The next three images were taken with a long working distance Zeiss UD X20 0.57 objective. This is also a short barrel objective and requires an extender. Used in this way on the Diaphot it produces a measured magnification of about X16. These are also single unstacked images with polarised light.

I particularly like the second 'gargoyle', the punk with the nose ring.

Baley · Post by **Baley** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:01 am

Yes, these would make great Halloween masks. Nicely done.

Pau · Post by **Pau** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 10:58 am

Good find.
Take a look to my avatar

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:23 am

Thanks Baley and Pau. Yes I'd spotted your avatar Pau.

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 4:00 pm

Nice (and fun) images!

The next three images were taken with a long working distance Zeiss UD X20 0.57 objective. This is also a short barrel objective and requires an extender. Used in this way on the Diaphot it produces a measured magnification of about X16

Shouldn't that yield a mag slightly higher than 20X?

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:41 am

Thanks Charles. I may have messed up when I used the stage micrometer. I'll do it again. I must admit I was surprised. Really I need to go back and check the actual magnification several of these short barrel objectives that I routinely use give in the real world of my microscope. I'm not as meticulous about these things as I ought to be.