Diospyros virginiana endosperm tissue through 100 x objective with thick primary walls showing plasmodesmata and middle lamella

Photographer

Clayton, Michael W.

Summary

• Photomicrograph
• These are the cell walls of persimmon endosperm tissue. The walls are mostly hemicellulose, and this functions as stored reserves for the developing embryo. Primary walls are rarely this thick. Because of this thickness, Diospyros endosperm tissue is uniquely suited for demonstrating plasmodesmata to botany students. These structures interconnect the protoplasts of adjacent cells, and they are just on the borderline of visibility with the light microscope.