06_plant_anatomy.doc
Plant Anatomy Lab
Henrik Kibak - Biology 242L
Lab 6 – Plant Anatomy
(Due at end of lab period)
Be careful and economical - when making
anatomical observations of a stem section it
is not necessary to draw the entire cross
section… a wedge or pie piece is enough to
represent the important tissue and cell types.
Your drawings do not have to be "works of
art" but do need to be careful enough that the
professor who is looking at them can identify
the tissue types.
Making your drawing large enough and using
some shading and extra lines is helpful.
It should take about two hours to make the
drawings required by A-E below.
A. Gymnosperm Anatomy - Using the Ward's Science prepared slide 6300, examine and
prepare a sketch of a young pine root, stem, needle, male (pollen) cone, and female cone (when
pollinated grows to become the pinecone) in cross section. You will probably use the dissecting
scope with the white plate background for the two cones. On the pine needle cross-section label
the xylem, phloem, endodermis, resin ducts, epidermis, and stomata if any.
B. Dicot Stem Structure - Prepare cross sections of bean stems or use the prepared slide of
Ranunculus. Sketch the cross sections under the microscope and attempt to identify and label
examples of epidermis, xylem, phloem, parenchyma tissue, cortex, endodermis, and if possible
collenchyma tissue.
C. Dicot Root Structure - Prepare cross sections of bean roots or use the prepared slide of
Ranunculus. Sketch the cross sections under the microscope and attempt to identify examples of
epidermis, xylem, phloem, Casparian strip, and cortex.
D. Dicot Leaf Structure - Prepare longitudinal and latitudinal sections of bean leaves. Sketch
the cross sections under the microscope and attempt to identify examples of xylem, phloem,
spongy and palisade parenchyma, stomata, and epidermis.
06_plant_anatomy.doc
Plant Anatomy Lab
Henrik Kibak - Biology 242L
Did not include "E" in spring 09, should include next time.
E. Monocot Root Structure - Prepare cross sections of onion roots or use the prepared slide of
Lilium. Sketch the cross sections under the microscope and attempt to identify examples of
xylem, phloem, endodermis, cortex, epidermis.
Need to figure out sectioning for this lab because it did not work well for me. If a carrot can be
used, why not a microtome?
2 double edged razors sandwiched around a broken double edged razor might work.
Need to develop answers for this lab.