Pyrrosia lanceolata

[iconoclastica]

Rhizome scales of Pyrrosia lanceolata from Borneo:

(Nikon Optiphot; Eplan 10x & 20x; ad hoc darkfield)

[Tonikon]

Really interesting! They look like stained glass art objects.

[ModelZ]

Nice translucent subject. Invites to play with illumination. Well done!

[iconoclastica]

Same subject, same microscope, but now with polarizers in place. Isn't it remarkeble how much less details are visible?

[rjlittlefield]

Same subject, same microscope, but now with polarizers in place. Isn't it remarkeble how much less details are visible?

That's a dramatic comparison.

If the polarizers are crossed, then I expect what we've lost is all the one-bounce specular reflections/refractions from the surface of the subject, leaving only the diffused light that has bounced around inside the subject.

--Rik