Light micrograph of a transverse section through a leaf of marram grass, Ammophila arenaria, a common coloniser of coastal sand dunes. The leaf is rol

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Light micrograph of a transverse section through a leaf of marram grass, Ammophila arenaria, a common coloniser of coastal sand dunes. The leaf is rolled into a vertical tube and bears internal spines (pink) which discourage foraging animals. The deeply- pigmented regions are photosynthetic tissues and the large-celled, lace-like tissue is sclerenchyma. The inner leaf surface is deeply grooved, with the stomata (breathing pores) set in the bottom of the grooves to prevent excessive evaporation. Vascular bundles (circular objects, faintly outlined in pink & each containing two large eye-like cavities) are visible near the base of each ridge. Magnification: x50 at 35mm size.

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Size: 3543px × 5142px
Photo credit: © SIDNEY MOULDS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ammophila, arenaria, botany, grass, leaf, leaves, light, marram, micrograph, nature, plant, plants, transverse