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| Leaf print of a garden fern showing a single stoma (stomata) |
A brief note on some useful links for anyone interested in looking at or researching plant epidermis and in particular Stomata.
Stomata are the special pores on the leaves of plants, through which water and gas exchange occurs. They can be visualised by making prints of the leaf surface on a microscope slide and viewing under a microscope.
Recently Brown and Ratford developed a method using UV Crystal Resin, as used by jewellery crafters,
which is very simple and effective. I have written my experience and guidance with practical methods in the Quekett Bulletin ISSN 1350-9128, October 2024 edition (appeared January 2025), pp 11-15. The paper is freely accessible to all from the Internet Archive here:
I have also begun an open source catalogue of plant stomata images, to which anyone can contribute, on Wikimedia Commons here:
Paul Adanick brough a very useful site to my attention which aims to bring all references/literature relating plant stomata together, managed by Professor Willem Van Cotthem. You can find the site here:
I hope that this information is of use to you if you are interested in microscopy as an amateur, professional, school or research institution, and want to give looking at stomata a go!
