In this blog, I put some flower petals under a Foldscope 2.0. What I saw absolutely blew me away!

Flowers Under a Microscope

Usually in a biology class, plants are put under a microscope so students can learn about the different parts of the plant. Scientists observe the different structures of plants to get a better understanding of how they function. And while these activities are important, if you limit yourself to just studying cellular structures, you will miss out on the beauty of the microscopic world. Let’s take a look at some of the artistic elements I was able to discover under my Foldscope 2.0!

Shape

I discovered a wide range of microscopic shapes in the flower petals. I observed rectangles, circles, ovals, and some irregular shapes. I really enjoyed watching the circular shaped cells sparkle like gems when the light hit them the right way!

Color

Flower petals come in a variety of colors to attract pollinators, so it is no surprise that you can see a variety of colors when you put flower petals in a Foldscope. What is surprising is how the macroscopic colors are broken down on the microscopic level! The image below shows a flower petal with red, pink, orange, yellow, and green cells.

Texture

Another aspect of the microscopic view of flower petals that I really appreciate is that of texture. Flower petals may look like they are flat and two dimensional, but when they are placed in a Foldscope, the microscopic lines that appear actually follow the contours of the folds and indentations to create what looks like a topographic map! The magnified contour lines really show the depth that lies within a flower petal.

I hope that the next time you get a bouquet of flowers, you will take a moment to appreciate the hidden microscopic beauty of the petals. Use your Foldscope 2.0 or Foldscope Mini to dive into the microscopic world and see what artistic elements are there waiting for you to discover. Share your microscopic images and thoughts on the Microcosmos. Be sure to tag us on social media when you post the results of your explorations, creations, and discoveries! We love to see how Foldscopers around the world are using their Foldscopes in new and innovative ways!

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