Subject: Reply: Skeletonize Leaf

From: [email-masked] (Gordon Uber)
Date: 16 Jun 1995 18:46:13 GMT

Leaf Skeletons

Abstracted from “Approaches to the Identification of Angiosperm Leaf 
Remains”, David L. Dilcher, The Botanical Review, 40(1): 55ff, Jan-Mar 
1974.

After Stehli and Bruenner (1968):
Leaves into rain water for some time to rot out softer tissues.
Clean off loose tissue, bleach, wash and dry.

Chemical Preparation
Heat in 5-20% NaOH or KOH, just under boiling until they turn brown
and epidermis bubbles up or loosens, usually 5-10 minutes.
Into cold water, rub between fingers until loose epidermis slips
>from  leaf.  If difficulty, repeat heating in NaOH a short time.
Into dilute 2-5% sodium hypochlorite to bleach.
Wash, dry between blotters.

Better Homes & Gardens (Nov 1972):
Into 3 tablespoons lye + 1/4 bar yellow kitchen soap per quart water.
Boil 2 hours in glass container.  Rinse.
Pound with rounded end of wooden handle, brush away pulpy material
between veins.
Soak in household bleach (hypochlorite), rinse in cold water, dry.

Note: many procedures available for staining in safranin O or basic
fuchsin.  Write for references.

Hope this helps.

Gordon Uber
Palo Alto, CA
[email-masked]