These look a lot like peltate trichomes or peltate scales often found
on the undersides of leaves or other plant parts:

http://www.si.edu/scmre/learning/lewisclark.htm

Peltate means umbrella-like and has been used to describe some fern
reproductive structures, such as the indusium of Matoniaceae:

http://lsvl.la.asu.edu/plb407/kpigg/...s&conifers.htm

The term spicule is applied to the skeletons of sponges:
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/porifera/porskel.html

David R. Hershey



wrote in message . ..
Hello,

This is a darkfield image from a prepared microscope slide labelled
"Fern Spicules." The nominal magnification is about 100X.

I am not knowledgeable about fern reproduction other than to recognize
that this may be a gametophyte or some stage along the way.,

What are these and can anone name the species?

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/nghy/n...rn_spicule.jpg

Thanks for the help.
Aaron