rrmic.htm

100x Magnification

In moving to a 100x view of the Ranunculus root the vascular cylinder is becoming more obvious. Some of the irregular thickenings of the Casparian strip are becoming visible. Look for these to locate the endodermal cells. Although difficult to identify in this view, phloem is just becoming visible between the arms of xylem. In the cortical area just outside the endodermis, granularity of the cells is due to the amyloplasts with their stored starch.

200x Magnification

In the 200x view, you can now contrast the thin-walled parenchyma cells of the cortex to thick-walled xylem cells of the vascular cylinder. The endodermis with its irregular Casparian strip is now more visible but not as obvious as that within the corn root. Look between the arms of xylem to locate the parenchyma cells of phloem. Some cells in these phloem tissues possess nuclei and are likely companion cells.

400x Magnification

Enlarging our view of the Ranunculus root to 400x now provides a clear view of the thickened secondary cell walls of the xylem. Look to either side of the xylem arms for phloem tissues. Companion cells with nuclei can be seen next to larger sieve cells. The Casparian strip is visible on endodermal cells in the lower right corner of the image.

1000x Magnification

At 1000x magnification now, locate sclerenchyma type cells of xylem to the left. Immediately adjacent to these cells to the right are the parenchyma cells of phloem. In moving further to the right you encounter the endodermis with its Casparian strip. Look closely and you can see it is not a continuous layer around cells like a thick secondary wall. In all roots, the Casparian strip helps the plant control flow of water and solutes into the root. To the lowest right are parenchyma cells of the cortex. Visible within these are the stained amyloplasts containing starch.

Microscopy of a Ranunculus Root

In this low magnification (40x) view of a Ranunculus root, some typical attributes of a dicot root are visible. In contrast to the monocot root with its ring of vascular tissues, a dicot root possesses a symmetrical core of vascular tissue bounded by an endodermis. Starting from the outer epidermis, you can see an extensive cortical region containing parenchyma cells with amyloplasts, storage plastids for starch. The small vascular cylinder is located centrally and bounded by an endodermis. Note the star-shaped area of xylem within the vascular tissue. Between these arms of xylem are phloem tissues.

	100x Magnification In moving to a 100x view of the Ranunculus root the vascular cylinder is becoming more obvious. Some of the irregular thickenings of the Casparian strip are becoming visible. Look for these to locate the endodermal cells. Although difficult to identify in this view, phloem is just becoming visible between the arms of xylem. In the cortical area just outside the endodermis, granularity of the cells is due to the amyloplasts with their stored starch. 200x Magnification In the 200x view, you can now contrast the thin-walled parenchyma cells of the cortex to thick-walled xylem cells of the vascular cylinder. The endodermis with its irregular Casparian strip is now more visible but not as obvious as that within the corn root. Look between the arms of xylem to locate the parenchyma cells of phloem. Some cells in these phloem tissues possess nuclei and are likely companion cells. 400x Magnification Enlarging our view of the Ranunculus root to 400x now provides a clear view of the thickened secondary cell walls of the xylem. Look to either side of the xylem arms for phloem tissues. Companion cells with nuclei can be seen next to larger sieve cells. The Casparian strip is visible on endodermal cells in the lower right corner of the image. 1000x Magnification At 1000x magnification now, locate sclerenchyma type cells of xylem to the left. Immediately adjacent to these cells to the right are the parenchyma cells of phloem. In moving further to the right you encounter the endodermis with its Casparian strip. Look closely and you can see it is not a continuous layer around cells like a thick secondary wall. In all roots, the Casparian strip helps the plant control flow of water and solutes into the root. To the lowest right are parenchyma cells of the cortex. Visible within these are the stained amyloplasts containing starch. *Microscopy of a Ranunculus* Root** In this low magnification (40x) view of a Ranunculus root, some typical attributes of a dicot root are visible. In contrast to the monocot root with its ring of vascular tissues, a dicot root possesses a symmetrical core of vascular tissue bounded by an endodermis. Starting from the outer epidermis, you can see an extensive cortical region containing parenchyma cells with amyloplasts, storage plastids for starch. The small vascular cylinder is located centrally and bounded by an endodermis. Note the star-shaped area of xylem within the vascular tissue. Between these arms of xylem are phloem tissues.



Note: To magnify this image, move your mouse to the right and let it rest on an icon for each desired magnification.