Common objects of the microscopeWood, J. G. (John George)
Science
Common objects of the microscope
Wood, J. G. (John George)
Microscopes; Microscopy
Fig. 9 is a beaded hair from the Marvel of Peru, which is composed of
a number of separate cells placed end to end, and connected by slender
threads in a manner that strongly reminds the observer of a chain of
beads strung loosely together, so as to show the thread by which they
are connected with each other. Another good example is seen at Fig. 11,
in a hair taken from the leaf of the sowthistle. In this case the
beads are strung closely together, and when placed under a rather high
power of the microscope have a beautifully white and pearly aspect.
The leaf must be dry and quite fresh, and the hairs seen against the
green of the leaf. Fig. 39 represents another beaded hair taken from
the Virginian Spiderwort, or Tradescantia. This hair is found upon the
stamens, and is remarkable for the beautifully beaded outline, the
fine colouring, and the spiral markings with which each cell is adorned.
A still further modification of these many-celled hairs is found in
several plants, where the hairs are formed by a row of ordinarily
shaped cells, with the exception of the topmost cell, which is suddenly
elongated into a whip-like form. Fig. 22 represents a hair of this
kind, taken from the common groundsel; and Fig. 36 is a still more
curious instance, found upon the leaf of the thistle. The reader may
have noticed the peculiar white “fluffy” appearance of the thistle leaf
when it is wet after a shower of rain. This appearance is produced
by the long lash-like ends of the hairs, which are bent down by the
weight of the moisture, and lie almost at right angles with the thicker
portions of the hair.
An interesting form of hair is seen in the “sting” of the common
nettle. This may readily be examined by holding a leaf edgewise in the
stage forceps, and laying it under the field of the microscope. In
order to get the proper focus throughout the hair, the finger should
be kept upon the screw movement, and the hair brought gradually into
focus from its top to its base. The general structure of this hair is
not unlike that which characterises the fang of a venomous serpent. The
acrid fluid which causes the pain is situated in the enlarged base of
the hair, and is forced through the long straight tubular extremity by
means of the pressure exerted when the sting enters the skin. At the
very extremity of the perfect sting is a slight bulb-like swelling,
which serves to confine the acrid juice, and which is broken off on the
least pressure. The sting is seen in Fig. 43.
The extremities of many hairs present very curious forms, some being
long and slender, as in the examples already mentioned, while others
are tipped with knobs, bulbs, clubs, or rosettes in endless variety.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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