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Licensing
Attribution Non-Commercial; No Derivatives:This image is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives License. View License Deed | View Legal Code
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*CIL – Cell Image Library accession number. Please use this to reference an image.

CIL:38911*  Cite 
Description

Scanning electron micrograph of stinging hairs on the surface of a nettle leaf. The large stinging hairs (trichomes) are hollow tubes with walls of silica making them into tiny glass needles. The bulb at the base of each hair contains the stinging liquid that includes formic acid, histamine, acetylcholine and 5- hydroxytryptamine (serotonin). The tips of the glassy hairs are very easily broken when brushed, leaving a sharp point, which easily pierces the skin to deliver the sting.

Technical Details

B0006134 Scanning electron micrograph 1993 Collection: Wellcome Images. Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons by-nc-nd 2.0 UK: England & Wales, see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/uk/

Biological Sources
NCBI Organism Classification
Urtica dioica
Cell Type
leaf
Cellular Component
trichomes
Biological Context
Biological Process
leaf morphogenesis
Plant Growth
leaf trichome development stage
Attribution
Names
Liz Hirst
Link
Wellcome Images
Citation
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
doi:10.7295/W9CIL38911
Archival Resource Key (ARK)
ark:/b7295/w9cil38911
Imaging
Image Type
recorded image
Image Mode
scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Parameters Imaged
elastic scattering of electrons
Source of Contrast
differences in deposition of metal shadow
Visualization Methods
visualization of contiguous regions
Processing History
colorized
Sample Preparation
Methods
chemically fixed tissue
Relation To Intact Cell
whole mounted tissue
Dimensions
Spatial Axis Image Size Pixel Size
X 800px ——
Y 560px ——