The microscope and its revelations . ration;such are those of the Geranium (Pelargonium), of which asmall portion is represented in Eig. 188, The different por-tions of the 188. —whcu it has been dried after strippingit of its cuticle, im-mersed for an hour__ or two in oil of tur- - pentine, and then J^. mounted in Canada ^^ balsam,—exhibit a most beautiful var-iety of vivid colora-tion, which is seento exist chiefly inthe thickened parti-tions of the cells ;whilst the surfaceof each cell pre-sents a very curiousopaque spot with numerous diverging prolongations, whichlooks as if for
The microscope and its revelations . ration;such are those of the Geranium (Pelargonium), of which asmall portion is represented in Eig. 188, The different por-tions of the 188. —whcu it has been dried after strippingit of its cuticle, im-mersed for an hour__ or two in oil of tur- - pentine, and then J^. mounted in Canada ^^ balsam,—exhibit a most beautiful var-iety of vivid colora-tion, which is seento exist chiefly inthe thickened parti-tions of the cells ;whilst the surfaceof each cell pre-sents a very curiousopaque spot with numerous diverging prolongations, whichlooks as if formed by a deposit of sclerogen upon itsinterior. This method of preparation, however, does notgive a true idea of the structure of the cells; for eachof them has a pecuHar mammillary protuberance, the baseof which is surrounded by hairs; and this it is which givesthe velvetty appearance to the surface of the petal, andwhich, when altered by drying and compression, occasionsthe peculiar spots represented in Eig. 188. The real cha-. Cells from the Petal of the Geranium{Pelargonium). STETJCTUEE OE PAHTS OE PLOWER. 453 racter may be brought into view by Dr. Inmaiis method;which consists in drying the petal (when stripped of itscuticle) on a slip of glass, to which it adheres, and thenplacing on it a little Canada balsam diluted with turpentine,which is to be boiled for an instant over the spirit-lamp, afterwhich it is to be covered with a thin-glass. The boiling blisters it, but does not remove the colour ; and on examin-ation, many of the cells will be found shoAving the mammillavery distinctly, with a score of hairs surrounding its base, eachof these slightly curved, and pointing towards the apex of themammilla. The petal of the common Scarlet Pimpernel {Ana-gallis arvensis), that of the common Chickweed {SteUariamedia), together with many others of a small and delicatecharacter, are also very beautiful microscopic objects ; and thetwo just named are peculiarly favourable subj
Size: 1494px × 1672px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectmicroscopes, booksubjectmicroscopy
