Oleander leaf. Light micrograph of a section through the midrib of a leaf from an oleander (Nerium oleander) plant. This is a typical xerophyte leaf,
Oleander leaf. Light micrograph of a section through the midrib of a leaf from an oleander (Nerium oleander) plant. This is a typical xerophyte leaf, adapted for arid conditions. It consists of three upper and lower epidermal layers (blue) and a thick cuticle (pink) to prevent water vapour escaping. The upper epidermis has one layer of palisade mesophyll (green, columnal) with chloroplasts. Beneath this are two spongy mesophyll (red, round) layers, with chloroplasts and large inter-cellular spaces. The lower epidermis has hollows/stomatal crypts with hairs (trichomes) with lots of foveolate stomata (pores), which cut down transpiration. In the middle of the lamina are small leaf veins (red-blue) and a single large vein (the horseshoe midrib) under which the three epidermal layers consist of thick-walled collenchyma (black-blue) and a ring of parenchyma (blue). Within the horseshoe ring are bundles of fibres (dark blue), and a ring of phloem, with sieve tubes (small dark blue cells). Next is the xylem (orange) with large tracheid cells. Magnification: x37 when printed 10 centimetres wide.
Size: 5858px × 3295px
Photo credit: © DR KEITH WHEELER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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