The Nikon MicroscopyU SMZ1500 Fluorescence Image Gallery features a wide spectrum of photomicrographs captured digitally using a Nikon SMZ1500 microscope coupled to an epi-fluorescence illuminator and the DXM1200 camera system. Specimens include many that exhibit autofluorescence and some that have been stained with exogeneous fluorophores.

Basswood Root - The American basswood (Tilia americana) is a stately and graceful hardwood tree that grows abundantly in the eastern half of North America. The heavily foliaged crown produces dark green heart-shaped leaves that reveal glistening undersides when blown by a breeze. Also known as American linden or American lime, basswoods are widely planted as street trees in cities and towns, prized for providing plentiful shade and a profusion of tiny cream-colored fragrant flowers.

Basswood Stem - Basswood is the softest of the hardwood trees and a traditional choice for woodcarving and modeling. Once seasoned, the wood is soft and lightweight with a fine, even texture. Because basswood lacks odor or flavor, it has been widely used to manufacture tools, utensils, and containers for the food industry.

Biting Louse - Bovicola is the genus of tiny, external, parasitic insects commonly known as biting lice or chewing lice. These lice occur on birds and some mammals (such as cattle, horses, goats, sheep, cats, and dogs), and their mouthparts are designed to chew and feed on feathers, hair, and skin scales. Even though about 3,000 can be listed, different species of biting lice are generally associated with a particular animal host (often termed host specific).

Black Rot of Grape - Black rot, caused by the fungus Guignardia bidwellii, is one of the most serious diseases of cultivated grapes in the eastern United States. The fungus can infect all green parts of the vine, but the most damaging effect is on the fruit, which shrivel up into dark-colored mummies.

Blue Mold Sporangiophores - Molds are members of the Fungi kingdom, and are therefore neither plant nor animal. While many species of mold possess physical features strongly reminiscent of plants, molds have no chlorophyll and are unable to produce their own food by means of photosynthesis; rather, they are heterotrophs and must obtain nutrients by consuming organic materials, a process achieved by secreting digestive enzymes that break down food materials into absorbable form.

Brown Dog Tick - The brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) is a common blood-sucking parasite found in tropical and subtropical climate regions of the world. Adult female ticks can measure up to 12 millimeters, whereas males are typically much smaller, and grow to a length of only about 4 millimeters. Both genders possess flat, teardrop-shaped bodies with a reddish-brown exterior that may appear bluish-gray when the insect is engorged.

Buttercup Stem - Buttercup petals are usually glossy bright yellow or white and are spirally arranged in the shape of a bowl. Although distributed throughout the world, these flowering plants are especially common in woods and fields of northern temperate zones.

Cambium Layer - Almost all vascular plants, from cedar tree to tulip, have a cambium layer of tissue that plays an important role in the growth of the plant. During growth cycles, the cambium layer contains cells that actively divide and differentiate into new conducting and supporting tissues, namely the wood (xylem) and bark or stem (phloem).

Canine Tapeworm Scolex - The tapeworm Taenia pisiformis is one of several parasites that infect dogs and other species of canines. The adult tapeworm has a head (scolex) containing suckers or hooks that are used to attach to the host's intestine.

Carrion Flower Root - Carrion flower (Smilax herbacea) is an American woodland vine. Though not a true carrion, it is so described due to its odiferous nature. This herbaceous North American vine bears tendrils of small, greenish, foul-smelling flowers.

Carrot Taproot - Carrots originally grew wild throughout Europe and Asia where primitive cultures savored the succulent, edible taproots. This elongated, cone-shaped, fleshy vegetable stores a gold mine of nutrients that include rich deposits of beta carotene, vitamin A, and phytochemicals.

Castor Bean Seed - Castor beans (Ricinus communis) are not true beans, but derivatives of the spurge family (Euphorbiacea), which is manifested by seed-producing deep-rooted perennials. The tall and leafy plant originated in tropical South Africa, and is now found in many tropical and temperate climates worldwide.

Clubmoss - Clubmoss is also commonly known as stag horn, witch meal, and vegetable sulfur. The genus name Lycopodium is derived from the Greek words lycos meaning wolf and podus for foot, resulting in the clubmoss leaf being said to resemble a wolf's paw.

Cork Cells - Cork (phellem) is a non-living, water-resistant, protective tissue that develops during growth phases in plants. Trees such as the Quercus suber, known as the cork oak, have been cultivated for cork that exhibits the commercially valuable properties of shock absorbency, gas and water impermeability, and insulation.

Corn Rust - Corn rust is caused by the parasitic fungus Puccinia sorghi, which produces golden brown to cinnamon-brown colored pustules at various places on the stems and leaves of the corn plant. As the fungal infection matures, black spores develop that are carried by air currents to other plants.

Corn Smut - Corn infected with the fungus Ustilago zeae (also known as U. maydis) forms large, swollen, kernel-like globules with soft black flesh covered by a silvery-gray skin. In the United States, after decades of trying to eradicate corn smut, some farmers are now attempting to grow corn with large corn smut infestations because the fungus is becoming a more popular gourmet food item.

Crown Wart of Alfalfa - Physoderma alfalfae is a soil-borne parasitic fungus that invades and destroys the crown region of budding alfalfa plants. This pathogen is a simplistic fungus lacking an integrated net-like structure and is comprised of only small, simple filaments that invade alfalfa host cells to obtain nourishment.

Druse Crystals - Most druse crystals that occur in plants are made of calcium oxalate, which is also the compound that most frequently forms kidney stones in humans.

Dutchman's Pipe Stem - A native of central and eastern North America, Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia durior) is a climbing vine and part of the birthwort family. The plant is distinguished by its large heart-shaped leaves and yellowish or purplish tubular flowers that resemble traditional Meerschaum smoking pipes.

Elodea Leaf - Elodea is an underwater plant, with species native to North and South America, and was once commonly used in aquariums. Unfortunately, some of these plants have been dumped into lakes and ponds in non-native regions around the world and have become nuisance species because their virtually uncontrollable growth.

Ergot - Ergot (Claviceps purpurea) is a parasitic fungus that affects grains such as wheat, barley, rye and triticale -- but is best known for the poisonous effect on animals or humans who eat ergot-contaminated grain.

Fern Sporangia - Fern is a common name for the cryptogamous (spore-producing) plants belonging to the division Filicophyta, also called Filicinophyta. They are primitive vascular plants with true roots, stems, and complex leaves. Most ferns reproduce through the alternation of generations, alternating successively between sexual and asexual forms.

Fig Leaf - Ficus is the genus of approximately 800 species of vines, spreading trees, or shrubs more commonly known as fig trees. These woody plants have been cultivated for thousands of years and prized for their edible fruit, which may be eaten fresh, dried, or preserved. Being one of the first fruit trees to be domesticated by primitive peoples, the fig has secured a place in history, myth, and religion.

Fish Louse - Argulus is the genus of many parasites commonly known as fish lice. Along with shrimps, prawns and water fleas, they are members of the subphylum Crustacea. Fish lice have oval-shaped, flattened bodies covered in exoskeleton, which is molted during growth stages. On average, adults reach lengths varying from one-quarter to one inch and may grow in diameter upwards of a quarter of an inch.

Frog Stomach - Amphibian skin is thin, slippery, and permeable, and among the most unique in the animal kingdom. Most frogs rarely need to drink because their special skin easily absorbs the water they need, and a few have stomach skin so porous that it soaks up water from moist earth. This smooth, delicate skin is also air-permeable, allowing oxygen to pass through.

Fruit Fly Body - For almost a century, experimental biologists have gained important information from the ubiquitous Drosophila melanogaster, more popularly known as the fruit fly. Although a tiny insect, the fruit fly has surprisingly specialized cell types, a sophisticated nervous system, and complex developmental stages.

Fruit Fly Eye - When not under scientific investigation, this tiny insect can be found around decaying vegetation laying their eggs, measuring about half a millimeter long, in various plants. Fruit flies have a short life cycle (about two weeks long), with the larvae eating, growing, and undergoing three moltings before becoming a pupa to emerge as an adult.

Generalized Plant Stem Cell - Currently, almost 250,000 individual species have been identified and classified as being members of the plant kingdom. The range of diversity suggested by such a large variety can be easily substantiated with a few examples, such as microscopic duckweed, gargantuan Redwood trees, and carnivorous Venus flytraps. Despite all disparities, the tissues comprising the leaves, roots, and stems of all plants can be categorized into just three basic tissue systems: the dermal, ground, and vascular layers.

Grapevine Stem - Grapevines bloom in spring, producing clusters of small greenish flowers that later mature into succulent globular-shaped berries. The many different varieties (approximately 8,000) produce black, green, red, or amber grapes. Grapes may be eaten fresh from the vine, or sun-dried to produce iron-rich raisins and currants. Certain grape crops are reserved for juice making, and some varieties are especially chosen to produce wines.

Herbaceous Plant Stem - The stems of herbaceous plants are soft and flexible and are typically found on annuals, which are plants that grow for only one season (such as most vegetables).

Hollyhock Rust - A tall and showy biennial or perennial, the hollyhock (Alcea rosea) has adorned many an English cottage and is an old-fashioned favorite. Although a hearty plant, hollyhock is prone to rust disease and temporarily lost some of its popularity in Britain during a serious outbreak in the nineteenth century. The rusts generally do not cause death of the plant, but they do stunt growth and cause discoloration and shedding of leaves.

Honeybee Head - Honeybees (Apis mellifera) possess a total of five eyes of two distinct types, simple and compound. The simple eyes detect only light, darkness, and movement and look like three little black beads across the bee's forehead. The helmet-like compound eyes of this fuzzy creature are comprised of thousands of minute, hexagonal facets and resemble a honeycomb.

Horsetail - Horsetails (Equisetum arvense) are hollow-stemmed plants that are anchored deep into the ground by an extensive, creeping root system. Also commonly known as mare's tail, horse pipes, or snake grass, their origins reach far back into the timeline some 200 million years. These living fossils thrive in wet places and can be found on stream-banks, in swamps, bogs, wet meadows, and gullies, as well as along roadside ditches.

Human Liver Fluke - Ironically, the liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis does not reside in or upon its host's liver; rather, the parasite lives in the biliary (bile) ducts. Adult flukes generally measure 10 to 25 millimeters in length, and may live up to 10 years inside a host. The host is likely to be infected with numerous flukes, and cases have been reported where a single human host contained over twenty thousand of the parasites.

Insect Wing - Nobody knows exactly how insect wings evolved, but winged insects have been flying about for at least 300 million years. Fossil evidence suggests that wings only evolved once in the insect lineage, and develop as paired outgrowths from the thorax, stiffened by ribs, or veins, which are innervated by tracheae.

Jelly Blobs - The majority of Bryozoans are marine (several thousand species), but one class, Phylactolaemata, is found exclusively in freshwater. Pectinatella magnifica is one species belonging to this class, and is commonly found in freshwater lakes and rivers in North America. Most people call them jelly blobs or just plain blobs, given their appearance.

Lily Anther Late Prophase - The lily is an herbaceous flowering plant native to the temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. The lily family Liliaceae is comprised of more than 250 genera and about 4,000 species of mostly herbaceous flowering plants, but the name lily is most frequently applied to the 80 - 100 species belonging to the genus Lilium.

Lily Anther Second Division - Anthers are the male reproductive structures of flowering plants that produce pollen. Each anther is deeply bilobed, and each lobe contains two structures called microsporangia. At the center of each microsporangium are numerous mother pollen cells that, after undergoing meiosis, form microspores (pollen grains).

Lily Anther Sporogenous Tissue - The lily, with its definitive reproductive stages, is a favored specimen in microscopy for illustrating normal cell division. Of special interest are cross sections illustrating the anthers at different stages of development, enabling the observer to follow the evolution of microspore mother cells into mature pollen grains.

Lily Double Fertilization - Most members of the lily family are herb-like and are characterized by bulbs, or enlarged underground storage organs, which give rise to fleshy stems and erect narrow grass-like leaves. Many also 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 leeks.

Lily Flower Bud - Revered for thousands of years as a symbol of purity, the lily's petals have been depicted on vases and artifacts as early as the time of the ancient Egyptian Middle Kingdom. Later, ancient Greek and Roman brides wore crowns of lilies to symbolize purity at their weddings, a tradition that continues today with lily-filled bridal bouquets.

Lily Seed Embryo - A plant embryo is actually an immature plant that is surrounded by stored nutritive materials enveloped in a protective seed coat. The embryo typically consists of embryonic roots (radicles), an embryonic stem (hypocotyl), and leaf like structures (cotyledons).

Megalops of Crab - Upon reaching the second larval stage (known as the megalops stage) the young crab has developed a body more closely resembling that of an adult, having evolved little claws and other legs similar to its progenitors. Even so, the immature crab has not yet curled and tucked under its large abdomen and thus appears to exhibit a tail, looking very much like a miniature lobster or crayfish.

Moss Antheridial Head - Like other members of the Bryophyte family, mosses require water (even in the form of heavy dew) to assist in reproduction. Water facilitates transport of sperm from the male antheridium to the female archegonium, where the sperm fertilizes an egg to produce a zygote.

Moss Capsule - During reproduction, elongated structures begin to grow out of the clumps of moss. Upon reaching maximum length, the tips of these long stalks, called seta, begin to enlarge to form capsules, or sporangia. Inside the capsule, spores develop to maturity by meiosis and are shed by wind currents and breezes.

Oak Older Stem - Throughout human history, oaks have played a major role in providing shelter, shade, fuel, food, wildlife habitat, enjoyment, and in ancient Great Britain, religion. Not all Quercus species take the form of tall trees; many of the approximately 300 species worldwide existing as shrubs such as the scrub oaks of the Western United States.

Oak One-Year-Old Stem - Oaks, members of the genus Quercus, are deciduous, hardwood trees found throughout the world, with about 60 species native to the United States. The lifespan of an oak varies by species (ranging anywhere from 50 to more than 200 years) and by environmental conditions.

Orchid Aerial Root - Orchids are beautiful and exotic perennial herbs grown in both hemispheres, usually in tropical and subtropical forests. The Orchidaceae family includes over 10,000 species and hybrids that display lustrous, translucent petals in rich, variegated colors presented over a variety of textures.

Pine Blister Rust - Pine blister rust, a serious disease of pine trees, is caused by the fungus Cronartium ribicola. This disease also affects Ribes, a genus of currant and gooseberry bushes. Although originally from Siberia and Asia, it is now found in Europe and North America where it plagues the forest industry and fruit growers alike.

Pine Mature Embryo - Pine is the common name for species belonging to the genus Pinus, a member of the family Pinaceae, resinous trees with needle-like leaves. Consisting of about 262 species, this is the largest family of conifers and includes fir, larch, spruce, hemlock, cedar, and Douglas fir.

Pine Needle - Slender green needles projecting in bundles from the branches of pine trees are, in fact, photosynthetic leaves. Characteristically, pine needles form in bundles that are spirally arranged along supporting shoots. Each bundle contains a specific number of needles associated with a particular type of tree.

Sclerenchyma Stem Cells - Sclerenchyma cells provide strength and support in the stem and roots of vascular plants. Upon maturity, the sclerenchyma cells have usually lost their protoplasts and are dead cells. The name of the tissue and cells derives from the Greek word skleros meaning hard.

Sheep Liver Fluke - Fasciola hepatica is a parasite found in sheep and cows and is more commonly known as the sheep liver fluke. These worms can measure up to 30 x 13 millimeters, and may infect the host for up to 10 years. Ironically, the sheep liver fluke resides in its host's bile ducts, not the liver.

Shepherd's Purse Embryo - Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is an annual herb of the mustard family. The shepherd's purse has a slender stem, clusters of tiny white flowers, and triangular seed pods (the seed pods have been said to resemble old-world leather purses).

Shepherd's Purse Mature Embryos - Shepherd's purse, a native to Mediterranean regions, accompanied Europeans in their migrations and is now found in most every part of the world. The herb bears flat, heart-shaped fruit pods, which, upon ripening, separate into two valves containing numerous yellow, oblong seeds.

Sieve Plates in Phloem - Vascular plants, such as squash and pumpkins, contain a food-conducting tissue termed phloem. The phloem is composed of the sieve tubes and plates, companion cells, phloem fibers, and parenchyma.

Silkworm Spiracle - Silkworm is the common name for the silk-producing larvae of any of several species of moths. The most celebrated is the common domesticated silkworm Bombyx mori, which was originally cultivated by the Chinese 5,000 years ago.

Spider - Contrary to popular opinion, spiders are not insects at all. Insects, which belong to the class Insecta, have six legs, three body segments, and typically possess wings at some stage of development. Spiders, however, are Arachnids, having eight legs, two body segments, and no wings.

Spiderwort Leaf - The spiderwort (Tradescantia) is a wildflower indigenous to North and South America and can readily be seen along roadsides, in woods, and in meadows. They are sometimes cultivated as ornamentals or houseplants, and young stems and leaves are said to be edible, the flowers being used as garnish in salads.

Springtail - Springtails are minute, wingless insects of the order Collembola. In place of wings, these primitive insects possess forked tail-like structures known as furculae, which they use to leap (or spring) for great distances.

Squash Bug - Squash bugs (Anasa tristis) utilize their piercing sucking mouthparts to remove plant juices. They attack cucurbits (squash, cucumbers, and melons) throughout Central America, the United States, and southern Canada, with a preference for squash and pumpkins.

Starfish - Starfish, or sea stars, are perhaps one of the most familiar marine organisms and are practically a symbol of ocean life. Despite their name, they are echinoderms, not fish, and breathe through structures on their skin, not through gills.

Sunflower Stem - Native Americans were the first to domesticate the sunflower plant, receiving valuable sustenance from the raw seeds and extracting its oil for use on their hair. Today, in addition to brightly dotting the U.S. landscape, sunflowers are cultivated throughout the world as an economically valued crop.

Trichomes of Mullein Leaf - Trichomes are minute, highly specialized outgrowths that can be found along any surface of a plant and are designed to enhance a plant's chances of survival. These accessory structures occur most often along stems and leaves, but they can also be found on the surface of petals and comprise the fragrant and sweet nectaries that draw pollinating creatures.

Wheat Loose Smut - Upon maturity, superficial spores of the pathogenic fungus Ustilago tritici erupt through the confines of thin plant membranes and appear as very fine, dust-like black powder. The minute black spores travel to other plants upon air currents or are washed into the ground to mix with seed grain during heavy dews or rain.

Wheat Rust - Wheat rust is a common and serious disease, reducing crop yields in the United States and other wheat-growing areas of the world. The disease is caused by the parasitic fungus Puccinia graminis, and can affect both the leaf and stem of wheat plants.

White Rust of Crucifers - White rust is a destructive plant disease caused by the fungus Albugo candida. Also known as staghead, white rust infects cruciferous plants (such as cabbage, broccoli, and kale) wherever they occur in the world.