Stomata in leaves

bindi · Post by **bindi** » 26 Apr 2007, 09:53

Hi all!
Can anyone recommend a plant we can use to make slides which shows the stomata well.

Have used geraniums but my supply was dug up by some plumbers last month and I was hoping something else in the garden here may work.

dolphinscales · Post by **dolphinscales** » 26 Apr 2007, 11:08

Hi there

Although I have not done it I was told once should I ever need the broad bean has great leaves for stomata.
I think geraniums are used mostly because they are found everywhere and easy to use. If broad beans are not in season when you are doing the prac I am sure one of the teachers in the school will have geraniums in their gardens -if not the school - ask around might be easier.

Hopefully someone will come up with something better

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 26 Apr 2007, 11:15

Hi Bindi

We use Wandering Jew (Tradecantia zebrina). The leaves are green on top and red/pink underneath.
It gives really good results.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Alice

nickyw · Post by **nickyw** » 26 Apr 2007, 12:56

Hi

We have used hibiscus leaves before only because there is a large plant right outside my office window. Very handy, it also has good results.

Hope this helps

Cheers Nicky

jilly · Post by **jilly** » 27 Apr 2007, 10:23

Hello
We had great success yesterday with iris leaves (which are plentiful in our dry climate). Break the leaf across then tear longways to get a thin transparent piece of leaf tissue.
This may be of use.
Regards
Jilly

Josie · Post by **Josie** » 27 Apr 2007, 11:21

Hi,

I've used agapanthas for this application. Like iris leaves they are easy to tear longways.

Cheers Josie

bindi · Post by **bindi** » 27 Apr 2007, 12:24

Thanks all, I used aggies & hybiscus, all plants we have growing in school garden.

Worked Great

ri · Post by ri » 27 Apr 2007, 16:30

Hi,
our teachers are very fond of painting firm plant/tree leaves with clear nail polish. This when dry, can be peeled off and placed on a microscope slide for viewing. They seem very happy with the results from pittosporum (native privet) leaves.
Cheers,
~Robyn

smiley · Post by **smiley** » 03 May 2007, 09:33

G'Day,

All our Seniors are investigating stomata for their EEI's, so that's all we've been doing for the last xillion lunch hours. We compared monocotyledons with Dicots for a look at how stomata were arranged on the leaf. We used sugar cane leaves (life in the tropics)

but bamboo would also work, to demonstrate monocots. The outside leaves of red cabbage, slightly wilted, also gives great results. It's also fun to compare epiphytes with their host trees.

Cheers, Kristin

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