But the wood from the shrub was commonly used to make boxes, among other pieces of woodworking, which is where the common name really comes from.1 - introduction
Buxus sp. (sempervirens, I think)
Buxus sp. is either a shrub or a small tree. It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant and is ideal as a hedge or for topiary.
2 - procedure
A young shoot of the Buxus was hand-sectioned with a single-razor blade. Sections were mounted in a glycerin & PVA-glue-based mounting medium for a temporary mount. Three staining procedures were followed. Safranin-O and crystal-violet (separately) - the procedures are the same as detailed in my previous posts - then an experimental combination of methylene-blue and fuchsin.
3 - results
Safranin-O
40x
100x, closer detail of the middle (parenchyma surrounded by xylem)
Crystal-violet
40x
100x, closer detail of parenchyma and xylem
Methylene-blue + fuchsin
40x
100x, closer detail of the parenchyma and xylem
4 - conclusion
I am happy with the results - I particularly like the staining of safranin-O, and I think that the methylene-blue + fuchsin combination produced a nice purple
