Low temperature scanning electron microscopy using a cryo-stage permits the examination of sputter coated frozen hydrated material. The technique has been used to compare morphological differences between hydrated pollen from either undehisced anthers or stigmas and dehydrated pollen from dehisced anthers. This enables observations of harmomegathic mechanisms, for which optical microscopy has previously been used, to be made at higher magnifications in the scanning electron microscope.