A druse is a group of crystals of calcium oxalate, [1] silicates, or carbonates present in plants, and are thought to be a defense against herbivory due to their toxicity. Calcium oxalate (Ca (COO) 2, CaOx) crystals are found in algae, angiosperms and gymnosperms in more than 215 families.

Many plant species produce crystal inclusions as a defense mechanism against herbivory. Most crystalline aggregations, or druse crystals, found in plants are made of calcium oxalate, which is the compound that most frequently forms kidney stones in humans.

There are five main groups of crystals: druses, styloids, crystal sand, prismatic crystals and raphides. All of these types can occur in monocotyledons. Raphides are the most common and they are shaped like needles that are often arranged in bundles. Furthermore, calcium oxalate crystals are common found in specialised cells were they are formed.

Sep 24, 2019 · Druse Crystal’s primary functions in plant cells include high-capacity “calcium control” and “herbivory resistance”. The druse crystals, allow the plants to store excess calcium in the form of calcium oxalate, which may then be remobilized if needed in …

Calcium oxalate crystals, which are found in many organs of plants, have different morphological forms: as druses, prism, styloids, raphides and crystal sand. In this study, the distribution, type and specific location of calcium oxalate crystals in ...

By contrast, druses (cluster crystals) are roughly spherical aggregates of crystals that occur in only a few early-divergent monocot families, but are common in eudicots and early-divergent angiosperms. Crystal characters can represent useful synapomorphies for particular plant groups.

In the present work a detailed method for CaOx crystals isolation from amaranth leaves is described, which can be used to isolate crystals from other plant leaves.

Jul 1, 2009 · Three basic crystal forms were found: druses and raphides, found essentially throughout the plant, and prismatic crystals, found mixed with pollen. Raphides show diversity in their arrangement within the idioblast cell, from neatly bundled (Fig. 2E) to somewhat disorganized (Fig. 2F).

In this study, we determined that micromorphological structures of some plant crystal have geometric structures and mathematical formulas.Plant crystals are the storage of many mineral acid salts (inorganic salts) in many plants, such as chloride, phosphate, carbonate, silicate anhydrides and sulfates, which are formed as a result of metabolism.

Druse crystals are a common occurrence in many plants and are usually granular or star-like in shape. Crystal formations that appear needle- or spear-shaped are referred to as raphides. Both are thought to deter herbivory, and a number of species of plants are poisonous to humans, as well as animals, due to the high calcium oxalate content.