SEM of Fern Spore

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the sporangia (spore sacs) of the "male fern". The sporangia are borne on the undersides of the leaf fronds in brown kidney- shaped structures known as sori. Each sporangium is a biconvex capsule in which the mature spores lie freely. As the mature sporangium dries, the tension in the walls of the annulus causes the sporangium to rupture, expelling the spores which are then distributed by the wind. The calibration bar is 20 um and the image was collected at a magnification of 2,280x.

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Filename: K08semfern049B.jpg
Copyright: Ted Kinsman / Science Source Inc.
Image Size: 3600x2850 / 8.2MB; botany fern ferns horizontal nature plant pteridophyte pteridophytes reproduction reproductive sac sacs scanning electron micrograph sporangium spore spore-bearing spores spores flora non-flowering plant scanning electron microscope SEM microscopy electron microscope
Contained in galleries: Scanning Electron Microscopy

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the sporangia (spore sacs) of the "male fern". The sporangia are borne on the undersides of the leaf fronds in brown kidney- shaped structures known as sori. Each sporangium is a biconvex capsule in which the mature spores lie freely. As the mature sporangium dries, the tension in the walls of the annulus causes the sporangium to rupture, expelling the spores which are then distributed by the wind. The calibration bar is 20 um and the image was collected at a magnification of 2,280x.