WB01343_.gif (599 bytes)    The Cuticle, Cutin, Suberin & Waxes-3    WB01345_.gif (616 bytes)
311 Syllabus

Light Microscope Images of Cuticle

KukuiHabitat400.jpg (229582 bytes)
Kukui Trees have highly reflective wax on their leaves. This makes them stand out in the forest.		 SecretionNonColumnarCells400CropLab.jpg (70546 bytes)
Cuticle on a Commercial Slide. The preparation of specimens like this removes most of the surface wax and some of the cuticle. Cuticle typically stains red in commercial slides.
CuticleOhiaMribSudan400CropLab.jpg (71114 bytes)
Cuticle below the Midrib of Ohi'a Lehua Leaf stained with Sudan Red		 CuticleClivia400Lab.jpg (80554 bytes)
The leaves of Clivia can have an extremely thick Cuticle!
CutGaloreHueCropLab.jpg (64857 bytes)
This plant has produced an extremely thick Cuticle. The red material on the surface is probably Wax. This was stained with Sudan Red which stains Wax and Cutin red/orange.		 CliviaFlrs200.jpg (37732 bytes)
Clivia Flowers

 

PitcherGroup200.jpg (65038 bytes)


Pitcher Plants attract insects by their bright colors. They mistake the "Hood" for a flower. Notice that the Epidermal Hairs point downwards. When an insect lands in this area its feet stick to epidermal wax which is molten at ambient temperatures. The insects get caught in this natural flypaper and can't crawl upwards. When they tire, the slide into the base of the pitcher from which they never return. This is a novel way in which a plant wax imparts and adaptive advantage to plants.

 PitcherDownHairs200.jpg (83362 bytes)

PitcherPlantAbyss300.jpg (51006 bytes)

 

 

 

 

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