False colour scanning electron micrograph of spores of the field horsetail,Equisetum arvense. The horsetail is the only living type of a primitive family of plants,the Sphenopsids,that were predominant at the formation of the coal measures. The vegetative stems are produced from underground rhizomes & the leaves are reduced to toothed sheaths at the leaf joints. Fertile shoots bear conelike sporangia,carrying the spores,which in this species appear in Spring. The picture shows a moist spore bound tightly by their elators,or bands of thickened cells. As the spores dry out,the elators unfurl,tossing the spores out of the sporangium. Mag: X 320 at 35mm. Original is BW print b450/029 | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Burgess, Dr. Jeremy |
Taille de l’image : | 3510 px × 5091 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |