What does the surface of a flower really look like? (BioE80 Spr2015)
May 27, 2015 • 1:57 AM UTC
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raymond
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On a typical sunny day at Stanford, I will bike through the engineering quad and admire the beautiful flowers that grace the campus’s presence. From afar, I take in their vivid colors: all the reds, purples, oranges, yellows, and greens.
Today, armed with a foldscope, I was empowered to look beyond color and wonder: What does the surface of a flower really look like? What is beyond the beautiful color that piqued my initial curiosity?
My partner and I took the role of explorers and collected many samples of various flowers around the engineering quad. The samples featured in this post and displayed below include a couple of leaves and a small flower with purple petals.
My partner and I took the role of explorers and collected many samples of various flowers around the engineering quad. The samples featured in this post and displayed below include a couple of leaves and a small flower with purple petals.
Based on these images, it appears that the surface of a petal and leave is contained of cells arranged in a rigid pattern. The cells are all circular shaped as well. In other words, there is a definite and deliberate manner in which these cells are organized. Why is this so? Is it to transport resources? Or perhaps to communicate with one another? Or is there a greater structural reason to give the plant shape?
These observations raise further questions. How did these patterns come about? What is the purpose of this structure? Why are the cells round? How do these structures vary across different living organisms? My journey as an explorer does not end here. With my foldscope, I will continue to explore the living world.
Contributors: Raymond L.
These observations raise further questions. How did these patterns come about? What is the purpose of this structure? Why are the cells round? How do these structures vary across different living organisms? My journey as an explorer does not end here. With my foldscope, I will continue to explore the living world.
Contributors: Raymond L.
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