The Nikon MicroscopyU confocal microscopy image gallery was created with a PCM-2000 confocal scanning system interfaced to a Nikon Eclipse E600 upright microscope. Images were recorded in successive z-axis serial sections with C-Imaging Systems software with excitation illumination provided by an argon-ion and/or a helium-neon laser.

	Interactive Java Tutorial
ATTENTION Our servers have detected that your web browser does not have the Java Virtual Machine installed or it is not functioning properly. Please install this software in order to view our interactive Java tutorials. Visitors using the Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers can download the appropriate software from the websites where the browsers are distributed. Please do not contact us for information about specific URLs where this software can be obtained.

The hollyhock grows elegant flowers along its tall stem and has adorned the gardens of many English cottages. This old-fashioned favorite is a native of China and is believed to have been introduced to Britain by soldiers returning from the Crusades. The common name derives from "holy", and in many cultures the plant signifies forgiveness. The hollyhock is treasured in Japan, where the leaves are borne by the heraldic badge symbolizing the dynasty of Tokugawa, which is traditionally considered to symbolize ambition and fruitfulness.

The large, satiny flowers of the hollyhock are grown in a variety of colors including pink, red, white, yellow, lavender and even black. The blossoms are set along erect stalks that grow between 5 and 9 feet tall. Its heart-shaped wrinkled leaves have hairy undersides and are a favorite food plant of the butterfly caterpillar. The hollyhock is a relative of the marshmallow plant and has been purported since medieval times to have medicinal applications as an emollient and diuretic.

Although hearty plants, Hollyhocks are prone to rust disease. A serious rust outbreak during the nineteenth century temporarily caused hollyhocks to lose popularity with the British. Rust infection generally does not cause death of the plant, but does stunt growth and cause discoloration and premature shedding of leaves. These parasitic fungi first appear on the underside of a leaf in small blister-like formations that are reddish-brown in color. On the opposite side of the leaf, the blisters appear as larger bright yellow to orange colored spots. The Autoecious rusts complete their entire life cycle on one host and can attack all green parts of the Hollyhock plant.