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Victorians had a great interest in the myriad varieties of life in the natural world... especially plants! Exotic species from all over the world were
brought in to populate large open and glass enclosed gardens, with some
of these wonderful creations still in existence today.
Ferns were of special interest
(known as Pteridomania), with some gardens dedicated to their
propagation and study. This widespread interest in plants of all
types was accommodated by most of the commercial slide mounters (as well
as many talented amateur naturalists). A huge variety of
botanical preparations were offered, both for scientific study, and
the enjoyment of the interested public.
Also of note, Coal had
only recently been
discovered to be composed of the fossilized remains of ancient ferns and
plants. There was a corresponding interest in the preparation of
coal specimens, including the study and classification of those long extinct species. |
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| Above,
Cellular structure of Wood, and below,
"Leaf of Fern" by J.W. Bond, both imaged using
darkfield lighting. |
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Stomata
(which control respiration) in leaf tissue of Iris;
slide by Watson & Sons, London, c. 1890. Imaged
using oblique transmitted light. |
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Tropical
Rain Forest, South America |
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Above,
Hornell mount of Ash Leaf Bud, imaged in Polarized light with wave
plate (image courtesy of Tony Pattinson)
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Cross-section
of stem, various magnifications in polarized light, with selenite filters
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Above,
"Upper Cuticle of the Petal of Geranium", by C.M. Topping c 1850s, with detail, imaged using
transmitted light, clearly showing cell walls and
chromoplasts. |
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"Stars
of Deutzia", silicaceous hairs on the undersurface of the
leaves of Deutzia Scabria, and on a plant stem (below).
These are thought to have probably evolved to
discourage herbivores. Top imaged between crossed polar
filters, bottom image using reflected lighting. |
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Fungus
"Asperum" growing on decomposing wood, imaged using
oblique transmitted lighting techniques |
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