English: Tree type fibers from the surface of a Verbascum leaf under microscope

Native, aqueous or temporary slides, as they are also called, are slides that last for a certain period of time and ordinary water is used for their preparation. They are easy and fast for preparation and not require additional reagents, as well as are quite practical for observing certain structures under a microscope. Two drops of water are placed on the object glass, one central large and one peripheral smaller drop of water. The leaf of Verbascum is taken. It can be noticed that the on the surface there is a thick covering of fibers. From the surface of the leaf, a razor blade scrapes off the thick covering of fibers onto the central drop of water. A cover glass is placed on it, which is lowered next to the peripheral drop of water and at an angle of 45° it moves towards the middle of the object glass until the moment when the two drops of water merge, during which it is lowered. This procedure needs to be performed precisely because otherwise air bubbles will form which will count during microscopy. In this way the native microscopic slide is prepared and it is ready for microscopy. In the field of view of the microscope, wood-like multicellular fibers can be seen in leaves of Verbascum. These fibers have a protective and covering function in the leaves.

Prepared and performed by Sara Cvetanoska, Institute of Biology, FNSM, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia.