A Short Method of Clearing Plant Tissues for Anatomical Studies

Abstract

In connection with an investigation of the vascular anatomy of certain flowers, the writer has developed a time-saving method which has a second advantage in showing all parts in their proper relation to one another. It is an extension of a method described by J. T. Buch-holz and A. F. Blakeslee¹ for the study of whole pollen-tube populations within stigmas of Datura. Their method was one of dissection, the material being first scalded and fixed, then dissected and stained. Lactic acid was used as the clearing and mounting medium. The writer uses lactic acid directly upon fresh material, killing, clearing and mounting it without disturbing the specimen. This procedure is simple, inexpensive and applicable to most plant tissues. It is therefore recommended for classroom work.