A rapid modified method is described to study stomata and other epidermal features without elaborate processing. The preparations are semipermanent and permit spatial relationship studies of both leaf surfaces from the same field. The cleared preparations are optically sectioned with brightfield or Nomarski interference contrast techniques without staining for contrast. The technique permits superior tissue resolution, clarity, minimal distortion of sections, and preservation of trichomes. The method is applicable to all species of Triticeae.