Cupric acetate is an organometallic, also known as verdigris, that is prepared by the action of acetic acid on copper oxide or copper carbonate. The purified chemical is often used as a catalyst in chemical reactions. Other uses include dyestuffs such as Paris green, production of fungicides and insecticides, in the preparation of gilder's wax in fire gilding, and in manufacture of artificial flowers. When recrystallized from the melt, cupric acetate will slowly crystallize, forming beautiful dendritic needle-like crystals. The time-lapse movie was made using a modified version of the Intel Play QX3 microscope equipped for polarized light illumination with a full-wave (first order) retardation plate.