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.

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• Lily Embryo, Specimen 1 - The highest magnification image sequence recorded with a 100x oil-immersion objective.

• Lily Embryo, Specimen 2 - The lowest magnification image sequence recorded with a 40x high dry objective with a correction collar.

• Lily Embryo, Specimen 3 - A higher magnification image sequence captured with a 60x oil-immersion objective.

• Lily Embryo, Specimen 4 - Another example utilizing the highest magnification objective (100x oil-immersion).

Lily is the common name for the family of Liliaceae and comprises more than 4000 species of flowering plants. Revered for thousands of years as a symbol of purity, many lilies are cultivated as highly prized ornamental plants including tulips, true lilies, daffodils, hyacinths, and amaryllis. Most members of the lily family are herb-like and are characterized by bulbs or enlarged underground storage organs that give rise to fleshy stems and erect narrow grass-like leaves -- many display beautiful showy flowers. Several species within this large family are cultivated as food crops and include such staple culinary ingredients as onions, shallots, garlic, chives, and leaks.

A plant embryo is actually an immature plant that is surrounded by stored nutritive materials that are enveloped in a protective seed coat. The embryo typically consists of embryonic roots referred to as radicles, an embryonic stem, the hypocotyl, and leaf like structures, or cotyledons. Lilies are classified as monocots because they produce only a single cotyledon. This embryonic leaf absorbs nutrients from the seed package until the embryo germinates and develops into a seedling, which is able to produce true leaves that generate food through the process of photosynthesis. All seeds encase plant embryos, which remain dormant until activated by water and climate conditions that entice germination.