Plant Survival 101 (BioE80 Spr2015)
May 26, 2015 • 4:03 PM UTC
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cphilp
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Before exploring out into the microcosmic world, I asked myself, “How do plants protect themselves?” I wondered what it is about their cellular structure that can protect such fragile beings from a sometimes harsh and varying environment?
On Stanford’s engineering quad I came across a small, delicate purple flower that seemed like the perfect subject for my question. I picked a single petal from this flower and made it into a slide for my Foldscope. I gazed through my Foldscope and adjusted the focus until I was able to view the individual cells of the precious, purple flower petal. I examined the edge of the flower petal with the idea that maybe the edges of the petal are more vulnerable and need more protection than cells on the inside. I could view each individual purple cell, which was surrounded by a darker lining. I concluded that these dark linings must be the cell walls of the flower’s cell.
On Stanford’s engineering quad I came across a small, delicate purple flower that seemed like the perfect subject for my question. I picked a single petal from this flower and made it into a slide for my Foldscope. I gazed through my Foldscope and adjusted the focus until I was able to view the individual cells of the precious, purple flower petal. I examined the edge of the flower petal with the idea that maybe the edges of the petal are more vulnerable and need more protection than cells on the inside. I could view each individual purple cell, which was surrounded by a darker lining. I concluded that these dark linings must be the cell walls of the flower’s cell.
After my Foldscope investigation, I conclude that it is cell walls that protect even the most fragile of plant cells from their environment. The cell walls are not visible with the naked eye, but if you take a closer look, the cell walls are visible and clearly an important part of a flower’s structure. However, I am left with further questions because I only got to view the petal from one dimension. What do the cell walls look like on the top and bottom of the flower? How would I view this side of the cell walls?
Explorer: Charlotte Philp
Explorer: Charlotte Philp
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