Cells in Tree Lichen

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DonSchaeffer
Posts: 3275
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 10:06 am
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Cells in Tree Lichen

#1 Post by DonSchaeffer » Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:23 pm

I've always wanted to penetrate the secret of tree lichen cells. My samples were always too woody and dense to see more than the surface. Now, using the stereo microscope as a dissection tool, I cut into a section of lichen from a tree branch. I scraped the pieces into what amounted to a powdery consistence with particles close to the size of sand grains. I put the powder on a slide in a drop water. I waited a few minutes until the water penetrated. Then I could see a cell structure that I'd never seen before.
5x objective
5x objective
growth1.jpg (72.54 KiB) Viewed 1522 times
60x objective
60x objective
growth0.jpg (138.14 KiB) Viewed 1522 times
60x objective
60x objective
growth2.jpg (127.34 KiB) Viewed 1522 times
60x objective
60x objective
growth3.jpg (145.64 KiB) Viewed 1522 times
60x objective
60x objective
growth4.jpg (163.88 KiB) Viewed 1522 times

charlie g
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Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2014 7:54 pm

Re: Cells in Tree Lichen

#2 Post by charlie g » Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:56 pm

Terrfic microscopy, thanks Don. I too for years pondered culturing, then viewing a variety of tree lichens. Quite a few types grown on my apple-trees here in finger lakes,NY.

Currently I have just for a few seasons directly 'fed' a few a few lichens insitu...using a variety of crude plant nutrient mixtures.

Terrfic to veiw the actual cell structures you have imaged for us. thank you, charlie g

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mrsonchus
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Location: Cumbria, UK

Re: Cells in Tree Lichen

#3 Post by mrsonchus » Wed Apr 28, 2021 6:40 pm

Interesting images and great to see the 60x performing pretty well too!
John B

DonSchaeffer
Posts: 3275
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 10:06 am
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Re: Cells in Tree Lichen

#4 Post by DonSchaeffer » Wed Apr 28, 2021 9:13 pm

charlie g wrote:
Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:56 pm
Terrfic microscopy, thanks Don. I too for years pondered culturing, then viewing a variety of tree lichens. Quite a few types grown on my apple-trees here in finger lakes,NY.

Currently I have just for a few seasons directly 'fed' a few a few lichens insitu...using a variety of crude plant nutrient mixtures.

Terrfic to veiw the actual cell structures you have imaged for us. thank you, charlie g
Thanks. My true ambition is to see wood cells.

DonSchaeffer
Posts: 3275
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 10:06 am
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Re: Cells in Tree Lichen

#5 Post by DonSchaeffer » Wed Apr 28, 2021 9:14 pm

mrsonchus wrote:
Wed Apr 28, 2021 6:40 pm
Interesting images and great to see the 60x performing pretty well too!
I love my 60X!

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