Why are leaves different than flowers (BioE80 Spr2015)
May 25, 2015 • 2:25 PM UTC
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alexrezai
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Without a Foldscope, I can see that there are many different components to plants, such as stems, leaves, bark and flowers. However, what I can see with just my own eyes does not allow me to understand why these individual components of a plant are unique. What makes a leaf different than a flower? To answer this question, I turned to my Foldscope! With my Foldscope, I was able to look at different samples of flowers and leaves in hopes to answer my question.
Here is a picture of a petal from a purple flower:
Here is a picture of a petal from a purple flower:
Purple flower petal
And here is a picture from a yellow tip of a stamen of another flower:
And here is a picture from a yellow tip of a stamen of another flower:
Yellow tip of a stamen
From these pictures, it does not appear as though matter in these parts of the flowers is densely packed. Perhaps the reason why flowers feel soft has to do with how the looseness of the packing of matter reduces the friction experienced when rubbing against these surfaces.
Now for my leaf samples:
From these pictures, it does not appear as though matter in these parts of the flowers is densely packed. Perhaps the reason why flowers feel soft has to do with how the looseness of the packing of matter reduces the friction experienced when rubbing against these surfaces.
Now for my leaf samples:
Leaf 1
Leaf 2
Based on my samples, it appears as though matter in leaves is more organized than matter in flowers. With the Foldscope, I am able to distinguish cell boundaries within leaves, but cellular structures are less clear in flowers. Perhaps the organization of matter in leaves accounts for the larger resistance leaves have to tension than flowers. However, it is clear from my observations that leaves are different than flowers as a result of differences in the microscopic packing of matter within both structures.
Alex Rezai
Based on my samples, it appears as though matter in leaves is more organized than matter in flowers. With the Foldscope, I am able to distinguish cell boundaries within leaves, but cellular structures are less clear in flowers. Perhaps the organization of matter in leaves accounts for the larger resistance leaves have to tension than flowers. However, it is clear from my observations that leaves are different than flowers as a result of differences in the microscopic packing of matter within both structures.
Alex Rezai
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