科學圖說

傘下的小燈籠(Mushroom Lanterns)

小菇屬真菌的掃描式電子顯微鏡照片。小菇屬真菌的菇體嬌小柔嫩，有些物種菌傘直徑不超過5公釐，常因體型太小而被忽略。然而，在袖珍的菇體上，有許多無法用肉眼看到的形狀奇特而精巧的構造，這些構造是鑑定物種時的重要依據。利用掃描式電子顯微鏡觀察，可見到菌傘的邊緣掛著一圈細細的條狀物，這些流蘇般的構造稱為囊狀體。拉近一看，囊狀體的表面均勻緻密地長著細小的刺狀突起，近看像是狼牙棒，遠看像是一根根修長而柔軟的小燈籠，懸掛在菌傘的邊緣。原來外表不起眼的小菇，在微觀的視角下竟是如此精緻。

These are scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of Mycena sp. The fruiting bodies of Mycena sp. are small and delicate. In some species, the caps are no more than 5mm. They are often overlooked because of their size. Moreover, many unique microstructures on the tiny fruiting bodies cannot be seen with the naked eye. However, these are important characteristics for species identification. Using SEM, we can see long and slender rods at the edge of the cap. These tassel-like structures are cystidia. Look closely at the spinose protrusions that are evenly and densely distributed along the surface of the cystidia, resembling spiked clubs. From a distance, they are more like little lanterns hung along the edge of the cap. These images surprise us by revealing the delicate structures of the inconspicuous Mycena mushroom.