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How to Identify a Plant That Uses the C4 Cycle

Plants that adapt to live in environments with a long and intense exposure to both sunlight and heat contain an extra anatomical structure that allows them to convert sunlight into energy more efficiently. These plants are called C4 plants, after the biochemical process carbon dioxide undergoes during photosynthesis. C4 plants can be identified by observing their cellular structure under a microscope. The main feature to look for is "Krantz anatomy," which is an enlarged bundle of sheath rings that contain numerous, dark chloroplasts around the veins of the plant.

Things You'll Need

Leaf sample
Scalpel
Tweezers
Slide
Water
Eye dropper
Microscope
Cover slip

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a half-inch-by-half-inch sample of a leaf using the scalpel. Include one of the leaf's veins in the specimen.
- 2
  Place the leaf specimen on a clean microscope slide using the tweezers.
- 3
  Add a drop or two of water on top of the leaf specimen using the eye dropper.
- 4
  Place a cover slip over the plant specimen, letting it fall gently into place without applying pressure to it.
- 5
  Place the slide onto the "stage" of the microscope, which is flat platform underneath the viewing module.
- 6
  Clip the slide into place so that the leaf sample is directly under the microscope's lens.
- 7
  Clip the slide into place using the metal clips on the platform of the microscope.
- 8
  Rotate the microscope's lens so that the lowest magnification is over the slide.
- 9
  Turn on the microscope.
- 10
  Look through the viewing lens and adjust the microscope's knob until you are able to see the plant sample through the lens.
- 11
  Look for plant cells at this magnification, and increase magnification if you are unable to observe any.
- 12
  Look for empty spaces surrounded by a ring of enlarged bubblelike objects with a collection of dark green dots inside. These are bundle sheaths surrounding a vein of the plant.

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