Water-lily leaf stem. Light micrograph of a cross- section through the leaf stem (petiole) of a white water-lily (Nymphaea alba). This shows the air c

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Water-lily leaf stem. Light micrograph of a cross- section through the leaf stem (petiole) of a white water-lily (Nymphaea alba). This shows the air canals (empty spaces, blue) in the tissue, which make the water-lily buoyant. This type of air- filled tissue is known as aerenchyma, and also improves respiration and photosynthesis. The air spaces are lined by thick wall cells, called sclereids, that have an irregular shape.

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Size: 5341px × 4724px
Photo credit: © DR KEITH WHEELER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: aerenchyma, air-filled, alba, anatomical, anatomy, aquatic, biological, biology, botanical, botany, bundle, buoyancy, buoyant, cross-section, leaf, light, micrograph, microscope, microscopy, nature, nymphaea, petiole, phloem, plant, sclereid, section, sectioned, spaces, stem, transverse, vascular, vessels, water-lily, white, xylem