The fluorescent stain Calcofluor White M2R readily binds to cellulose and other β‑linked glucans (Hughs and McCully 1975). We have found the stain to readily bind to the thecal plates of armored dinoflagellates. Considerable detail is revealed about plate structure in both living and preserved specimens at the light microscopic level. This simple rapid technique should prove useful for the tabulation and study of dinoflagellate thecae.

Toluidine blue stain for a versatile non-fluorescent stain and calcofluor white stain for fluorescent microscope