I found this almost intact skeleton leaf when it was raking up the leaves from under the hedge. The network of smaller and smaller veins is the plant's amazing distribution and collection system for the living cells in the leaf - water carried outwards via the xylem to the outer reaches of the leaf then sugars, made by photosynthesis in the leaf cell chloroplasts, carried back into the plant. A wondwerful example of the beauty of the functional in nature...
I have just twigged. You have a light box. Wonderful image.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant illustration of the complex vein structure that can't be seen in a whole leaf.
ReplyDeleteIsn't nature marvellous?
ReplyDeleteOur natural world is truely beautiful - from the bigger landscapes to the smaller deatails, like this.
ReplyDeleteHi Adrian, I have used a light box for this kind of picture in the past but these days use a much easier method - place the specimen far enough in front of a white paper background for it not to cast a shadow when lit with the camera's built in flash - spot metre the specimen - use photoshop magic wand tool to cut out the specimen and put it on a white background - use photoshop to manipulate brightness and contrast to whiten any of the original background that's still visible.
ReplyDeleteSkeleton leaves are lovely objects, aren't they John?
ReplyDeleteEverywhere you look, toffeeapple...
ReplyDeletecouldn't agree more swanscot...
ReplyDelete