Detection of Opaline Silica in Grass Leaves

Abstract

ONE of us1 recently correlated the sizes and shapes of opaline silica particles in a pasture soil with those of silica bodies in the dominant grass. Finding that information in botanical literature is inadequate for making such correlations, we are investigating the opaline bodies of British grasses. In work on the leaf blades, we find that, unless appropriate techniques are employed, two main errors may arise : (1) the presence of opaline bodies are overlooked, or (2) if found, their shapes may be misinterpreted.