CRYSTALLINE SILICA IN PLANTS

Crystalline silica has been found in Fragaria leaves, Equisetum shoots, diatomite, and tabaschir. Differing proportions of amorphous silica (opal) also occur in each of these. The crystalline X-ray reflections of α-quartz, low tridymite, or α-cristobalite have been found in virtually all specimens. However, unidentified crystalline reflections are noted, particulary in the silica isolated from Fragaria leaves and diatomite.     

OCCURRENCE,TYPE, AND LOCATION OF CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALS IN LEAVES AND STEMS OF 16 SPECIES OF POISONOUS PLANTS

Crystals in 16 species of poisonous plants growing naturally in Saudi Arabia were studied with light microscopy. Three types of crystals were observed: druses, prismatics, and crystal sand. Raphides and styloids were not observed in any of the species studied. Druses occur more frequently in the leaf midrib and in the cortex and pith of the stem. In contrast, crystal sand and prismatic crystals are rare and occur in the leaf, intercostal lamina, and in the vascular tissues. The preliminary results show the absence of the three types of calcium oxalate crystals in the stem and leaf of seven species: Ammi majus L., Anagallis arvensis L., Calotropis procera Ait., Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schard, Euphorbia peplis L., Hyoscyamus muticus L., and Solarium nigrum L., and the presence of druses, prismatic crystals, and crystal sand either in the leaf and stem or in the leaves or stems of nine species: Anabasis articulata (Forssk.) Moq. in DC., Chenopodium album L., Convolvulus arvensis L., Datura stramonium L., Nerium oleander L., Ricinus communis L., Rumex nervosus Vahl., Pergularia tomentosa L., and Withania somnifera (L.) Dun. in DC. These observations indicate that there is no apparent relationship between the distribution of calcium oxalate crystals and the toxic organs of the plants, and supports the view that the presence of calcium oxalate crystals may not be related to plant toxicity.     

DISTRIBUTION OF CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTAL IDIOBLASTS IN LEAVES OF TARO (COLOCASIA ESCULENTA)

Cleared leaves of taro (Colocasia esculenta) were examined microscopically to determine changes in the distribution of both druse and raphide idioblasts during a late developmental process—leaf unfurling and expansion. Druse crystal idioblasts are small spherical cells found throughout the lamina, mostly in subepidermal areas. Two types of raphide idioblasts were observed in taro leaves: the nondefensive raphide idioblasts, which are elongated cells usually found embedded in tissues of the leaf margins; and the defensive raphide idioblasts, also elongated cells, but usually found suspended between mesophyll cells in leaf airspaces. The densities of both druse and raphide cells were highest at the fully furled stage and least in the mature, unfurled stage, after substantial leaf expansion. During leaf unfurling, the raphide cells showed a bilaterally symmetrical distribution during all stages from fully furled to mature, unfurled leaves. The distribution of druse cells was bilaterally symmetrical during the fully furled and unfurled stages, but, during unfurling, when one half of the lamina is unfurled and the other half is still tightly furled, up to 80% of the druse cells were found on the unfurled half of the lamina.     

DISTRIBUTION OF CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTAL IDIOBLASTS IN CORMS OF TARO (COLOCASIA ESCULENTA)

The morphology and distribution of intracellular crystals of calcium oxalate in taro (Colocasia esculenta) was studied by light microscopy. The modified Pizzolato (AgNO₃-H₂O₂) method was used to localize crystals in cleared corm cross sections. Crystals of two forms were found: druses and raphides. The numbers and density of the crystals in corms increase rapidly in early development, then level off, and eventually decrease in older and larger corms. An especially high concentration of druses was observed 2-3 mm from the exterior edge of many corms. This corresponds to a ring of vascular tissue which circumscribes the corm at approximately the same distance from the surface. Observations suggest that the development of these highly specialized cells and the formation of calcium oxalate crystals is a dynamic process.     

不同钙离子浓度对鲎腹神经光感受器二种光碰击的影响

在生理盐水中用持续的弱光（６＊１０＾６－９＊１０＾６个光子／ｃｍ＾２）刺激鲎的腹神经光感受器细胞可得到二种类型的碰击,一种称谓“标准光碰击”或“Ｃ２碰击”,它有对称的形状,信号衰退的指０数常数大于０．０１／毫秒。     

CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALS IN THE GREEN ALGA SPIROGYRA SP. (ZYGNEMATALES, CHLOROPHYTA)

Specimens of an unidentified species of the freshwater green alga Spirogyra were found to have abundant cruciate cellular inclusions up to 34 micrometers long. A crystalline nature was shown by birefringence in polarized light. Despite their large size and complex shape, these inclusions did not occur free in the large central vacuole. Instead, they were associated with cytoplasmic strands that spanned the space between gyres of the parietal spiral chloroplasts and with strands that suspended the nucleus in a cytoplasmic embayment of the central vacuole. Some crystals moved directionally along the cytoplasmic strands, and their movement was arrested by cytochalasin B, suggesting that actin microfilaments had a role in crystal movement. Solubility tests showed that the inclusions were composed of calcium oxalate; they dissolved rapidly in weak hydrochloric acid without effervescence, but they were not soluble in concentrated acetic acid or sodium hypochlorite. A colorimetric enzymatic test for oxalate was used to demonstrate microscopically the presence of oxalate and to quantify the amounts. The calcium oxalate crystals were surrounded by a water-soluble organic matrix that retained the shape of the crystal even after demineralization. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the morphology of isolated crystals.     

两种挺水植物对水位变化的生长响应

水文情势是湿地生态系统最重要的环境因素之一,对土壤环境、物种分布及植被组成具有决定作用,长时间水淹可导致大量物种死亡,改变植被组成和结构。水文情势主要包括两个方面:水位(淹水深度、频率和持续时间等)和水质,二者都会对植被产生显著影响。湿地植物的生长、繁殖和生物量分配等在受水位的影响时表现出一定差异,且物种之间表现不一致;当高水位持续时间超过30d时,物种存活率会显著降低;而较低的水位波动     

SHOOT HISTOGENESIS: THE EARLY EFFECTS OF GIBBERELLIN UPON STEM ELONGATION IN TWO ROSETTE PLANTS

Sachs , Roy M., Charles F. Bretz , and Anton Lang . (U. California, Los Angeles.) Shoot histogenesis: The early effects of gibberellin upon stem elongation in two rosette plants. Amer. Jour. Bot. 46(5): 376–384. Illus. 1959.—Within 24 hr. after the application of gibberellic acid (GA) to vegetative plants of biennial Hyoscyamus and of the long-day plant Samolus, a considerable increase in mitotic activity was observed in the pith, cortical, and vascular tissues of the rosette axis immediately below the apical meristem. As the treatment continued, the zone of cell division increased commensurate with the increase in length of the stem; the new cell divisions formed transverse walls predominantly and thus contributed to stem elongation. The cell contribution from the apical meristem was but a small fraction of the total produced by the subapical tissues, suggesting that the induced subapical mitotic activity is the main site of tissue development in the shoot. There was no evidence for cell elongation for at least 72 hr. after application of GA, and, hence, the initial increase in stem length was due solely to an increase in cell number. With regard to the general problem of shoot histogenesis, our data for the rosette plants and those for Xanthium and Chrysanthemum showing extensive cell division far below the apical meristem, are in full agreement with the studies by Bindloss (1942) with tomato, and support her conclusion that “. . . it is no longer possible to think that the chief center of cell division is in a relatively short zone 60 to 100 microns from the stem tip . . . and that cell division activity in the promeristem is not solely responsible for stem length.” On the contrary, the mitotic activity in the subapical regions is undoubtedly responsible for the major part of the cells found in the stem.