6.1.3 Rhizome scale surface texture

Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

6.1.3 Rhizome scale surface texture

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Scales clathrate (or latticed) where the cells have thin, transparent surface walls and thickened lateral walls.

Some scales have a prominent pattern of strongly thickened cell walls that gives the impression of a lattice (the surface cell walls are thin and transparent, while the vertical walls are thick and dark). These are referred to as clathrate scales.