It's quite difficult to visualise that such a thin structure as a leaf is made up of several layers of cells. Imagine putting a leaf flat on a surface and cutting across and then looking end on at the cut edge. The image on the left shows what you would see under the microscope if you took a very thin slice from that cut edge. Unfortunately, without access to sharp blades or a microtome, it can be quite hard to get thin enough sections to view the cut surface in detail. However, one layer of the leaf, the epidermis, can be studied quite easily without need or danger of sharp blades.
All images are to the same scale.
Makes it much easier to peel off a section. Comments on the article to the author Anne Bruce Microscopy UK Front Page Micscape Magazine Article Library Microscopy UK or their contributors. Please report any Web problems or offer general comments to the Micscape Editor , via the contact on current Micscape Index.