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Lophocolea bidentata
This liverwort is found growing among mosses or in patches on lawns and grassy banks. This particular specimen was collected from the George Square Gardens, Edinburgh. Image taken with Nikon Coolpix 950 with Microscopes Plus eyepiece adapter

 

Lophocolea bidentata

This is general view of Lophocolea bidentata. The specimen was suspended in water to allow manipulation and dissection. Note the bidentate leaves and the dark bunches of rhizoids on the under surface.

This image of a single leaf shows that it consists of a single layer of cells. One of the "horns" as been folded under the slide coverglass.

 Lophocolea bidentata leaf
Lophocolea bidentata mid-leaf cells

A view of cells in the mid-leaf reveals the oil droplets within and their regular hexagonal shapes.

The margin of the leaf is smooth and, in this picture, one can see the individual chloroplasts as well as oil droplets.

 Lophocolea bidentata leaf margin cells
Lophocolea bidentata mid-leaf cells PL

The use of crossed polarising filters reveals the cell walls very clearly.

The folded leaf tip is pictured here and one can see the transition from two cells to one cell.

 Lophocolea bidentata leaf tip
Lophocolea bidentata leaf tip PL

Again, crossed polars reveals the cell walls of the leaf tip.

Darkfield illumination shows another aspect of the leaf. This time one of the leaf "horns". 

 Lophocolea bidentata leaf tip DF

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