Figure 7: Changes in the cuticle shape and development of the external aragonite deposits.
From: Direct contribution of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum to lime mud production
SEM views of the progressive development of external CaCO3 deposits on Thalassia testudinum leaves. (a–c) Images of young leaf fragments showing a cuticle free of CaCO3 crystals, where the fenestrate morphology of the seagrass cuticle and a progressive change in the cuticle shape from a concave-sunken wall surrounding the epidermal cell (a,b) towards a convex-filled wall (c) is visibly evident. (d–f) More mature leaf fragments showing an increasing presence of crystals, where (d,e) a progressive development of the carbonate coating and (f) close-up of a cluster of needles coming out through a cuticle hole, are visible.
