Are these microscopic star-like structures on a dead leaf some sort of organism? If so, which one? I’m wondering what these star-shaped organisms are on a dead leaf I found in my backyard (Texas, USA). This was taken under my microscope at 40x magnification. They seem to be clear organisms with multiple outgoing “rays” that somehow benefit with being on the leaf. What’s the identification? Are they even organisms? They appeared stationary. Response to comment asker: The leaf did not feel hairy. ![enter image description here](

These are **stellate** ("star-shaped") [and possibly **peltate** ("borne on a stalk")] **hairs** (" **trichomes "**) of the leaf itself.

* From Harris & Harris's (2001) ""Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary":

> **Peltate**. a flat structure borne on a stalk attached to the lower surface

> **Stellate**. Star-shaped, as in hairs with several to many branches radiating from the base. Figure 1686.

![enter image description here](

> **Trichome**. A hair or hair-like outgrowth of the epidermis.




You can see a magnified image of stellate peltate trichomes on a leaf of a Texan native, _Croton monanthogynus_ below:

![enter image description here](

Leaf surface (abaxial) showing stellate, peltate trichomes. SOURCE: Nickrent, D.L., Costea, M., Barcelona, J.F., Pelser, P.B. & Nixon, K. (2006 onwards) PhytoImages. Available from: