2 - SCHIZOMYCETES

This shows a mixture of tiny single-celled organisms. Our understanding of micro- organisms has grown enormously over the past century, and those shown here would now be separated into bacteria and fungi.

detail from 4 - VOLVOX GLOBATOR L.

This shows the freshwater green alga Volvox globator. Many individual cells live together forming a beautiful spherical colony. Some of them are specialized for reproduction.

10 - CYTOSIRA BARBATA

Illustrations of the life cycle of a common European brown seaweed, Cytosira barbata.

detail from 16 - MARCHANTIA (ARCHEGONIUM & ANTHERIDIUM)

This chart illustrates the liverwort Marchantia and its life-cycle. Liverworts belong to the group of plants known as non-tracheophytes, which also contains the mosses. They are generally small and grow in damp environments. The illustrations show the whole plant and stages in the production of male and female gametes. Marchantia is one of the most familiar liverworts, and is still used as an example in the current School of Life Sciences first year textbook (illustrated by detailed colour photographs).

26 - PINUS LARICIO VAR. AUSTRIACA

This shows an example of a European coniferous tree, the Austrian pine Pinus laricio var. austriaca. The shoot and cones are included, as well as a detail of the seeds. The tree has now changed its name to Pinus nigra var. nigra.

30 - CUSCUTA GLOMERATA

The chart illustrates the way in which a plant parasite, Dodder, derives nutrients from a host plant such as flax or hops. In the past Dodder was responsible for considerable loss of yield from these crops. The plant has no connection with the ground and no roots and green pigment of its own. The large central diagram shows how, with protuberances from its stem, it is able to penetrate the tissues of its host, thereby "stealing" a supply of nutrients and water.

38 - CYDONIA VULGARIS

Illustrations of the flower and fruit of the quince Cydonia vulgaris. Here the flower is shown being pollinated by a bee. Quince was popular as a fruit in Britain from the 13th century, and was particularly common in the 16th - 18th centuries when it was often used to make quince marmalade.