MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

This afternoon I pinched a bit of moist soil from an outdoor flowerpot and put it into a saucer of rainwater. In my first sample of that water, I discovered this "creature." I do not know whether it is a plant or an animal. It has no cilia, nor any chloroplasts. Apparently, it is recently deceased because the cellular structure and tubular "arms" are intact. I originally thought it had seven "arms," but in a second water sample I found a similar creature with nine "arms." I then saw that two "arms" of the first specimen had somehow been amputated. Can anyone identify it for me, please?

http://hermitdog.com/microscope/7-armed ... %2040x.png

http://hermitdog.com/microscope/7-armed ... %2016x.png

http://hermitdog.com/microscope/7-armed ... 20100x.png

Second sample:

http://hermitdog.com/microscope/creature2%2040x.png

Thanks for your help.

hermitdog42@gmail.com

Clarification: The 16x, 40x, or 100x on the images denotes the objective used. The actual magnification would multiply that figure by 20. Therefore, 40x = 800 magnification, etc.

Looks like a Trichome to me. A Stellate Trichome to be more precise.
See link for the curious names of many of them: http://www.backyardnature.net/hairs.htm

Nice images by the way.

Ditto 75' - a 'stellate trichome' I'd say too.

BINGO !

A Stellate Trichome it is. Thanks for the help!

Looks like one of those aliens out of the tom cruise movie, Edge Of Tomorrow. Spooky.

Can you put a leaf off the plant under the scope? They grow on the leaves I read.
https://www2.palomar.edu/users/warmstrong/hybrids2.htm

Trichome and BTW, nice images.

Bonjour
Très belles images