Exploring the interior of cuticles and compressions of fossil plants by FIB-SEM milling and image microscopy

Abstract

We present the first study of cuticles and compressions of fossilleaves by Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy(FIB-SEM). Cavities preserved inside fossil leaf compressionscorresponding to substomatal chambers have been observedfor the first time and several new features were identified in thecross-section cuts. These results open a new way in the investigationof the three-dimensional structures of both micro- andnanostructural features of fossil plants. Moreover, the applicationof the FIB-SEM technique to both fossils and extant plantremains represent a new source of taxonomical, palaeoenvironmentaland palaeoclimatic information.