Image of Shrubby sundrops

Description:

Under a high magnification of 1648x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the morphologic ultrastructure displayed by a number of pollen grains found within the dehisced, or split open, anther of a yellow "Fireworks" sundrops, Oenothera fruticosa flower. These pollen grains were of the "tricolpate" type of pollen, which means that their outer surface was traversed from pole to pole, by three symmetrically placed furrows. The textured surface also identified these grains as the "reticulate" type. Note the round shape of these grains, indicating that they had yet to undergo a drying process, in order to become ready to be disseminated into the plants environment.
Created: 2006