Mexican sun – Maize root

Mexican sun – Maize root

Odra Noel  

Roots are the underground arm of plants, absorbing and transporting water and minerals to the stems and leaves. Here we see a root in section, a microscopic view that classifies flowering plants into dicots and monocots.

Corn was domesticated in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. Many varieties exist today. This root has different layers that represent stages of growth.

The mandala is a spiritual symbol or diagram used to aid meditation and relaxation. The regular pattern of the root can have a similarly mesmerising effect.

English sun – Buttercup root

English sun – Buttercup root

Odra Noel  

Roots are the underground arm of plants, absorbing and transporting water and minerals to the stems and leaves. Here we see a root in section, a microscopic view used to classify flowering plants into dicots and monocots. Not the most common image that comes to mind when you think of a buttercup, but this is still a true representation of the beautiful flowering plant (a dicot).

The mandala is a spiritual symbol or diagram used to aid meditation and relaxation. The regular pattern of a root can have a similarly mesmerising effect. Here there is the added effect of stained glass. The central ‘cross’ is the natural structure of the buttercup root.

Spanish sun – Sarsaparilla root

Spanish sun – Sarsaparilla root

Odra Noel  

Roots are the underground arm of plants, absorbing and transporting water and minerals to the stems and leaves. Here we see roots in section, a microscopic view that classifies flowering plants into dicots and monocots. These flowering plants belong to the genus Smilax, and are common in temperate zones. As a monocot, they can make true wood.

The mandala is a spiritual symbol or diagram used to aid meditation and relaxation. The regular pattern of the root can have a similarly mesmerising effect.

 

Sicilian sun – Tomato root

Sicilian sun – Tomato root

Odra Noel  

Roots are the underground arm of plants, absorbing and transporting water and minerals to the stems and leaves. Here we see a root in section, a microscopic view used to classify flowering plants into dicots and monocots. The tomato root is a dicot.

The mandala is a spiritual symbol or diagram used to aid meditation and relaxation. The regular pattern of the tomato root can have a similarly mesmerising effect.

Highgate resident in green

Highgate resident in green

Odra Noel  

Lichens are symbiotic organisms, where fungi and algae work together to exploit sunlight and create glorious stains on trees and tombs. These are foliose lichens, with small, flat leaf-like structures. As lichens can occur from sea level to high mountains, they are a very familiar view. It is estimated that 6% of the Earth’s surface is covered by lichens.

Highgate resident in pink

Highgate resident in pink

Odra Noel  

Lichens are symbiotic organisms, where fungi and algae work together to exploit sunlight and create glorious stains on trees and stones. These are foliose lichens, with small, flat leaf-like structures. Tombs are frequently covered by lichens, and the dates on the stones have been used to date the lichens.

Yellow lichen on rock

Yellow lichen on rock

Odra Noel  

Lichens are symbiotic organisms, where fungi and algae work together to exploit sunlight and create glorious stains on trees and tombs. These are foliose lichens, with small, flat leaf-like structures, very common in graveyards. This one lights up when the low setting sun hits it.

Highgate resident (yellow lichen on yew tree)

Highgate resident (yellow lichen on yew tree)

Odra Noel  

Lichens are symbiotic organisms, where fungi and algae work together to exploit sunlight and create glorious stains on trees and tombs. These are foliose lichens, with small, flat leaf-like structures. The marked contrast of yellow lichen on dark bark is quite common in cemeteries. They are at their best when they catch the setting sun light.

The magnificent 7

The magnificent 7

Odra Noel  

Chloroplasts in a plant cell, in this case a spinach leaf. Inside the chloroplasts, the stacks of thylakoid membranes are where the action takes place. The dark spots are starch granules. In close proximity are the mitochondria, with curved membranes, and the endothelial reticulum. This system of membranes navigates between the energy producing organelles until it reaches the nucleus, where it also forms the nuclear membrane.