Phalaenopsis orchids
Orchid flower spikes showing central/dormant nodes (left), and apical flower stems (pedicels) with flowers (right)
Central section of an orchid flower spike with dormant node under microscope
Orchid bract/sheath at 20x
Peeled back orchid bract/sheath, revealing axillary bud with meristematic dome/tissue at 20x
Stained meristematic orchid cells "resting" in interphase surrounded by needle like calcium oxalate crystals (raphides) at 100x
Meristematic orchid cells stained with Toluidine Blue O at 400x
Cells stained with both Toluidine Blue O and Methylene Blue at 400x
Near the top are four differentiated/specialized epidermal cells originating from the meristematic tissue below at 400x
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