Trees under the microscope

[daltontrees]

This thread is for any interesting pictures, discussion, techniques etc. for discovering more about trees by examining them under the microscope. I will kick off with a few random pictures of my own. First is the cross section of a conifer needle. If I find the slide again I will confirm the species. Please look in from time to time even if you are not participating. If nothing else the pictures can be very pretty.

[daltontrees]

Long section of Cistanthera papyvifera showing what I suspect are sieve plates. One of my favourite slides for this reason.

[daltontrees]

Larch cross section showing why trees look like they have rings. Densely packed cells of winter wood between larger cells of rapidly growing spring wood.

[Bob Morris]

Great idea for a thread and a good start with the posted photographs. Can't help with techniques for sample prep of plant samples but have made a substantial amount of petrographic sections over the years.

Looking forward to more photos.

Cheers

Bob

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Amazing, thank you.

 

I noticed Tony Croft (AKA Hamadryad) inferred in a post yesterday that he is looking to invest in something similar so may also soon be able to contribute.

 

I recall meeting a HC Leaf Miner 'face to face', at least on screen, at a previous conference where Bartlett's where using a very strong electro-microscope.

 

Again, thank you for taking the time and for explain the slides...fascinating.

 

Cheers..

Paul

[RobArb]

Just out of curiosity Jules, what microscope is that (spec, model etc?)

[David Humphries]

Fine thread idea Jules

 

We had a play for a short while at work looking at pores etc, but never took it particularly seriously or any further.

 

Send all our lab stuff off to the Jodrell lab at Kew

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/ecology/29030-towards-next-level.html

 

 

.

[daltontrees]

I can't remember which microscope I used, I have two. Probably a GX Optical JPL1350HBG for the pictures with the crosshairs. The others might be a Swift Model P. The quality is probably a product of the camera used. The poor ones are probably a Nikon Coolpix and the good ones a Nikon D3100

[daltontrees]

Great idea for a thread and a good start with the posted photographs. Can't help with techniques for sample prep of plant samples but have made a substantial amount of petrographic sections over the years.

Looking forward to more photos.

Cheers

Bob

 

Ahh, petrology, my other obsession. I have around 500 slides, hence I have polarising microscopes. I have suggested elsewhere to Tony Croft that he gets one because it shows up celllose degradation in the s2 layer of cell walls under crossed nicols.

[daltontrees]

Eventually I will get round to explaining a bit about microscopes and how in theory anyone on Arbtalk can get into this at very little expense.