Image of the month (May 2013)

Amazing diversity of pollen shapes

This image is from the website: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1267236/Microscopic-images-reveal-invisible-enemy-faced-hayfever-sufferers.html/

The montage of microscopc scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of various pollen is shown in this figure. The pollen in the middle is from pumpkin and it is visible to naked eye (0.2mm).

The included link consists of additional stunning SEM images of various pollen. The gorgeous shaps and diversity is a sight to behold. The context of the article is about introducing us to the "enemy" behind allergy and hay fever. I hope every one understands that plants are just trying to reproduce and we are just in the way of pollen enroute to a receptive stigma! May be we can consider ourselves "collateral damage".

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