Image of Shrubby sundrops

Description:

Magnified 201x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the morphologic ultrastructure found amongst a collection of pollen found within the dehisced, or split open, anther of a yellow "Fireworks" sundrops, Oenothera fruticosa flower. The circular shape of these grains means that they still need to further dry before they are ready to be dispersed. The drying will also change their morphology, whereupon, the grains will become elliptical, or "football"-shaped. These pollen grains were of the "tricolpate" type, which means that the outer surface is traversed from pole to pole, by three symmetrically placed furrows.
Created: 2006