What is this and what is it for?

[MicrobeGazer45]

Complete beginner here. This came with my microscope and I don't know what it is. The top part rotates and seems to have a thin layer of something.

Thanks,

[mrsonchus]

Aha! It's a rudimentary hand-section cutter - for soft stems of small diameter.
Push a small soft stem piece through one of the holes, from below. Set it to just be sticking up above the hole's side by about 1mm then turn the blade-holding part to cut a section. Place under your 'scope - in a drop of water on a slide with coverslip over.

Worth a try for a quick start!

[MicrobeGazer45]

Aha! It's a rudimentary hand-section cutter - for soft stems of small diameter.
Push a small soft stem piece through one of the holes, from below. Set it to just be sticking up above the hole's side by about 1mm then turn the blade-holding part to cut a section. Place under your 'scope - in a drop of water on a slide with coverslip over.

Worth a try for a quick start!

Thanks mrsonchus! This will help me a lot with plant stems, as you said.