Abstract
MATHEW, L. & SHAH, G. L., 1984. Crystals and their taxonomic significance in some Verbenaceae. The morphology, plant distribution and chemical composition of crystals in 35 tropical species in the family Verbenaceae have been investigated using light microscopy, SEM and an energy dispersive X-ray analyser. Crystals may be solitary, aggregated or as conglomerates and crystal sand. Eleven kinds of solitary crystals and five aggregate or conglomerate forms have been observed. Their occurrence varies from species to species and sometimes from organ to organ in the same plant, suggesting that there might be taxonomic significance of crystal form and distribution. Most of the crystals are compounds of a range of elements, silicon, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, aluminium, sulphur sodium and titanium in varying proportions. Calcium is the major component of solitary acicular crystals and silicon of other kinds of crystals.
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