Ferns under the scope
I spent most of my day looking at spores under the scope. I did not know what I was going to see or what I was looking at half the time. Thank goodness for Google!
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00062BPurple2Bcliff2Bbrake2Bspores2BPellaea2Batropurpurea2Bunit2B312Bsporangium2Bannulus.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
Purple cliff-brake spores (Pellaea atropurpurea) are the roundish things to the right side of the photo. This is at 400x.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00132BPurple2Bcliff2Bbrake2Bspores2BPellaea2Batropurpurea2Bunit2B312Bsporangium2Bannulus.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
These are cool and after googling I found out this is the annulus of the Pellaea atropurpurea. A part of the fern sporangium. Check out this blog to explain it.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00032BEbony2Bspleenwort2Basplenium2Bplatyneuron2Bspores2Bunit2B312Bsporangium2Bannulus.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron) at 400x. The whole structure is the sporangium. The annulus is the gear-looking part. I hope you read the link above. And the hairy brown things are the spores.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00042BEbony2Bspleenwort2Basplenium2Bplatyneuron2Bspores2Bunit2B312Bsporangium2Bannulus.jpg?w=320&ssl=1)
I squished them up pretty good or bad depending on how you think of it. But doesn’t it look like gears or some abstract art.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_3153.jpg?fit=852%2C320&ssl=1)
The sun was almost unworldly this morning at sunrise.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_3165.jpg?fit=852%2C320&ssl=1)
Lizardtail Gaura (Gaura parviflora) flowers have turned red. This has not been a banner year for this species.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_3177.jpg?fit=852%2C320&ssl=1)
A Dark Flower Scarab (Euphoria sepulcralis) on Flat-topped Goldenrod(Solidago nitida). It has been a few months since I have noticed this beetle species.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_3173.jpg?fit=852%2C320&ssl=1)
A Black Vulture was watching me closely.