Druse Crystals Research Articles

Occurrence, types and distribution of calcium oxalate crystals in leaves and stems of some species of poisonous plants.

BackgroundCalcium 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 the leaves and stems of the eight species of poisonous plants and one species of nonpoisonous plant were investigated with light microscopy. During study special attention was given to the possible correlation between the presence and types of calcium oxalate crystals and toxic plant organs. The plants examined in this study were Hedera helix L. (Araliaceae), Aristolochia clematitis L. (Aristolochiaceae), Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabaceae), Saponaria officinalis L. (Caryophyllaceae), Chelidonium majus L. (Papaveraceae), Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae), Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae), Cynanchum acutum L. (Asclepiadaceae), and Nerium oleander L. (Apocynaceae).ResultsThree types of crystals: druses, prismatic crystals and crystal sands were observed. Druses were identified in the leaves and stems of six species of studied plants. In contrast to druses, crystal sands and prismatic crystals were rare. Prismatic crystals were observed in the leaf mesophlly cells of both Nerium oleander and Cynanchum acutum. However, crystal sands were observed only in the pith tissue of Humulus lupulus. On the other hand, leaves and stems of Chelidonium majus, Aristolochia clematitis and Hypericum perforatum were devoid of crystals.ConclusionThere is no absolute correlation between the presence and type of calcium oxalate crystals and toxic plant organs. However druse crystals may function as main irritant in toxic organs of the plants.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1999-3110-55-32) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Fruit anatomy of some Apiaceae plant species Aladağlar/ Turkey

Anatomical characters are very important to distinguish between closely related species and genera, especially in the family Apiaceae. Anatomy of Apiaceae fruits varies strongly, even among closely related species in the same genus. An ethnobotanical study was conducted between 2004 and 2005 in order to determine wild used plants in West part of Nigde-Aladaglar. According the data of this study’s, 3 plant species belong to Apiaceae family sold to different tea companies by local people. Anatomical characteristics of fruits of the Ferulago pachyloba, Prangos ferulacea, Prangos meliocarpoides have been studied. Ferulago pachyloba has winged dorsal ribs, equal to or shorter than seeds. Prangos ferulacea has five blocks of mesocarp, they are not separated by the exocarp and the vascular bundles usually surround each block. Prangos meliocarpoides has continuous mesocarp and not separated into blocks. Druse crystals do not exist in the endosperm of F. pachyloba, P. ferulacea, and P. meliocarpoides

Influence of calcium oxalate crystal accumulation on the calcium content of seeds from Medicago truncatula

Crystals of calcium oxalate often form in cells adjacent to the vascular bundles in the tissues along the xylem stream. This spatial crystal pattern suggests a role for calcium oxalate formation in regulating calcium transport and partitioning to edible organs such as seeds. To investigate this potential role, microscopic and biochemical comparisons were conducted on the different tissues of Medicago truncatula wild-type and the calcium oxalate defective (cod) 5 which lacks the ability to accumulate prismatic crystals in the cells adjacent to the vascular bundles. Calcium measurements showed that cod5 seeds had more calcium and cod5 pods contained less calcium than the corresponding wild-type tissues. Roots, stems, and leaves from cod5 and wild-type had similar calcium content. Although cod5 was devoid of prismatic crystals, cod5 pods were observed to form druse crystals of calcium oxalate not found in wild-type pods. Taken together these findings suggest a functional role for calcium oxalate formation in regulating calcium transport to the seeds. Regulating calcium uptake at the roots also appeared to be another point of control in determining seed calcium content. Overall, regulating the long distance transport and partitioning of calcium to the seeds appears to be a complex process with multiple points of control.

A Taxonomic Revision of the Annesorhiza triternata Group (Apiaceae, Apioideae): the Transfer of Peucedanum triternatum and P. filicaule and the Description of Five New Species

Abstract A taxonomic revision of the Annesorhiza triternata group is presented. The group is composed of seven species all endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Two of the species had previously been assigned to the genus Peucedanum, as P.filicauk and P. triternatum, based on the marginally winged and dorsally ribbed homomericarpic fruits. They are here transferred to the genus Annesorhiza based on the periodically replaced fleshy roots, hysteranthous leaves, and fruits that have an oblong, more or less isodiametric body, a narrow commissure, and druse crystals scattered throughout the mesocarp. In addition, five new species clearly allied to A.filicaulis and A. triternata are described herein, viz. A. bracteosa, A. elsiae, A. laticostata, A. radiata , and A. refracta. The group is distinguished from other species in the genus by less sturdy synflorescences, ternate leaves with linear ultimate leaflets (except A. refracta), distinctly branched resin ducts in the petals (except A. filicauli...

Wood and bark anatomy of Steganotaenia and Polemanniopsis (tribe Steganotaenieae, Apiaceae) with notes on phylogenetic implications

The wood and bark structure of the distinctive southern African genera Polemanniopsis (including the newly described species P. namibensis) and Steganotaenia have been described. To allow for comparisons with the traditional subfamily Saniculoideae, a shrubby species of Eryngium from the Juan Fernandez Islands was also studied. Polemanniopsis and Steganotaenia were recently considered as two closely related genera forming a new tribe Steganotaenieae of subfamily Saniculoideae (Apiaceae), whereas Eryngium is commonly recognized as a member of Saniculoideae. Eryngium differs significantly from the other two genera in the smaller size of intervessel pits, sclerification and radial dilatation in collapsed secondary phloem, the absence of crystals in the phelloderm cells and the occurrence of druse crystals in secondary phloem ray cells. Steganotaenia and Polemanniopsis share features, including the presence of marginal axial parenchyma, the occurrence of radial secretory canals in secondary xylem, dilatation of the secondary phloem by axial parenchyma stretching, cortical periderm initiation and the presence of chambered phelloderm cells containing druse crystals. These characters (especially the occurrence of chambered crystalliferous cells in phelloderm, which has not yet been reported for Apiaceae) support both the monophyly and the isolated position of the Steganotaeniae. No reliable synapomorphic features could be found to support a relationship with Saniculoideae. Steganotaenia is remarkable in the presence of axial secretory canals in the phelloderm: these structures have not yet been found in the periderm of any member of Apiales. Our results do not provide any support for the suggestion that the woody habit in the three genera examined was derived from herbaceous ancestors secondarily. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 163, 55–59.

On the nature and origin of the oxalate package in Solanum sisymbriifolium anthers

This is a detailed study carried out in Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. on the development of the circular cell cluster (CCC) during crystal deposition, as well as the composition of the crystals. Light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize tissue throughout anther development. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) allowed the determination of the elemental composition of crystals that form in the CCC region, and infrared and x-ray diffraction analysis were used to specify the crystal salt composition. TEM analysis revealed that the crystals originated simultaneously within the vacuoles in association with a paracrystalline protein. Prior to the appearance of protein within vacuoles, protein paracrystals were visible in both rough endoplasmic reticulum and vesicles with ribosomes on their membranes. In vacuoles, paracrystals constitute nucleation sites for druse crystals formation. EDAX revealed that C, O, and Ca were the main elements, and K, Cl, Mg, P, S, and Si, the minor elements. X-ray powder diffraction of crystals detected the predominant presence of calcium oxalate, but also vestiges of calcite, quartz, and sylvite. The calcium oxalate coexisted in the three chemical forms, that is, whewellite, weddellite, and caoxite. Infrared spectrophotometry identified bands that characterize O-C-O, H-O, C-H bonds, all of calcium oxalate, and Si-O-Si, of quartz. These results were compared with studies of anthers carried out in other Solanaceae genera.

New tribal delimitations for the early diverging lineages of Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae

AbstractPhylogenetic analyses of the cpDNA trnQ–trnK5′ exon region for 27 genera and 42 species of Saniculoideae and early diverging lineages of Apioideae were carried out to assess or confirm the tribal placements of the following anomalous genera: Annesorhiza, Astydamia, Chamarea, Choritaenia, Ezosciadium, Itasina, Lichtensteinia, Marlothiella, Molopospermum and Phlyctidocarpa. To accommodate these unique early diverging members of the Apiaceae and to reflect their relationships, a new tribal classification system has become necessary. Many of the early diverging genera (herein referred to as the protoapioids) can readily be distinguished from the euapioids (the remaining apioids) by the presence of scattered druse crystals in the mesocarp. The major morphological discontinuity within the family, however, lies between the combined protoapioids and euapioids (representing an expanded Apioideae s.l., including the Saniculoideae) and the subfamilies Azorelloideae and Mackinlayoideae. The broadened subfamily Apioideae is diagnostically different from the other subfamilies in the absence of rhomboidal crystals, the presence of druse crystals scattered throughout the mesocarp (subsequently lost in the euapioids), and the non–woody endocarp. No such diagnostic characters are available to support the traditional or recently expanded concept of Saniculoideae. The broadened concept of Apioideae is also supported by the sporadic presence of true wings. This character can be variously interpreted from a phylogenetic point of view, but nevertheless has considerable diagnostic value. A new tribal classification system for the protoapioids is proposed on the basis of molecular, morphological and anatomical evidence. This new system is intended to be practical and non–hierarchical to allow for future realignments amongst the tribes, as more evidence becomes available. It makes provision for hitherto poorly known African taxa and comprises the following eight tribes, five of which are newly described: Annesorhizeae, Choritaenieae, Heteromorpheae, Lichtensteinieae, Marlothielleae, Phlyctidocarpeae, Saniculeae and Steganotaenieae.

Drought tolerant stem anatomy characteristics in Manihot esculenta (Euphorbiaceae) and a wild relative

The stem structure of two cassava cultivars, UnB 99 and UnB 110, known for being adapted to humid conditions and tolerant to drought, respectively, and of a wild species, Manihot glaziovii, was examined anatomically. Free-hand sections of secondary stems were made, clarified with 50% sodium hypochlorite solution, stained with 1% alcian-blue safranin, and then passed through an ethanol series and butyl acetate, followed by mounting in synthetic resin. M. glaziovii stems had dense prismatic and druse crystals in the cortical parenchyma, along with abundant gelatinous fibers. The pericycle fibers also had thicker walls. An absence of crystals, offset by abundant starch, was observed in clone UnB 99. In M. glaziovii, abundant tyloses were found in vessel elements; these were rare in clones UnB 99 and UnB 110. The wild species had larger vascular vessels; the secondary xylem showed very little starch, unlike UnB 99 and UnB 110. In clone UnB 110, starch was observed in the cortical region, and medulla and gelatinous fibers were found in the pericycle and secondary xylem. Brown stem color was found to be associated with tolerance to drought.

Ezosciadium (Apiaceae): a taxonomic revision of yet another early diverging South African apioid genus

The hitherto poorly known Cape endemic genus Ezosciadium (Apiaceae) is revised. This genus is highly distinctive and can be distinguished from other annual genera of the region by its pilose vegetative and reproductive organs, the sessile compound umbels with conspicuously unequal rays, the non-inflexed petal tips, the relatively small, highly-inflexed stamens which appear almost sessile, and the prominent carpophores which persist on the plant. The fruit are unusual in the presence of druse crystals around the carpophore and tanniniferous substances in the epidermal cells of the ribs. The phylogenetic position of the genus within the subfamily Apioideae was assessed using rbcL, rps16 intron (2 new accessions) and nrITS (1 new accession) sequence data. Ezosciadiumcapense was found to form part of an early diverging lineage within the subfamily, sister group to the Annesorhiza clade and possibly also closely related to the genera Molopospermum and Astydamia. A comprehensive taxonomic revision, including typification, detailed descriptions, geographical range and illustrations, is presented.

Cellular ultrastructure and crystal development in Amorphophallus (Araceae).

Species of Araceae accumulate calcium oxalate in the form of characteristically grooved needle-shaped raphide crystals and multi-crystal druses. This study focuses on the distribution and development of raphides and druses during leaf growth in ten species of Amorphophallus (Araceae) in order to determine the crystal macropatterns and the underlying ultrastructural features associated with formation of the unusual raphide groove. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and both bright-field and polarized-light microscopy were used to study a range of developmental stages. Raphide crystals are initiated very early in plant development. They are consistently present in most species and have a fairly uniform distribution within mature tissues. Individual raphides may be formed by calcium oxalate deposition within individual crystal chambers in the vacuole of an idioblast. Druse crystals form later in the true leaves, and are absent from some species. Distribution of druses within leaves is more variable. Druses initially develop at leaf tips and then increase basipetally as the leaf ages. Druse development may also be initiated in crystal chambers. The unusual grooved raphides in Amorphophallus species probably result from an unusual crystal chamber morphology. There are multiple systems of transport and biomineralization of calcium into the vacuole of the idioblast. Differences between raphide and druse idioblasts indicate different levels of cellular regulation. The relatively early development of raphides provides a defensive function in soft, growing tissues, and restricts build-up of dangerously high levels of calcium in tissues that lack the ability to adequately regulate calcium. The later development of druses could be primarily for calcium sequestration.

Ontogeny and structure of the pericarp and the seed coat of Miconia albicans (Sw.) Triana (Melastomataceae) from " cerrado" , Brazil

Miconia albicans fruit and seed coat ontogeny were described under light microscope. The samples were fixed in formalin-aceto-alcohol (FAA), neutral-buffered formaldehyde solution (NBF) and formalin-ferrous sulphate (FFS) solutions, embedded in plastic resin, sectioned at 10 µm and stained with Toluidine Blue. Specific dyes and/or reagents were used for the microchemical tests. The ovary is semi-inferior and the indehiscent, fleshy globose berries are originated mainly from the development of the inferior portion of the ovary. The immature pericarp is mainly parenchymatous with some sclereids, druse crystal and phenolic-like compounds idioblasts widespread in the mesocarp. In the mature pericarp, the endocarp cells are often collapsed, the mesocarp is thick with cells more or less turgid, and the sclereids, the druses and the phenolic-like compound idioblasts are almost absent. The ovules are anatropous, bitegmic and crassinucellate, and the zig-zag micropyle is formed by both the exostome and the endostome. The mature seed is pyramidal-elongated in shape, exalbuminous and testal. The raphal part occupies about 40% of the seed coat total length and had the mechanical layer derived from its inner layer. The antiraphal side is non-multiplicative and the exotesta, mesotesta and endotesta are differentiated into a sclerotic layer, with the exotesta being the mechanical one. The tegmen is absent.

Styloid crystals in Claoxylon (Euphorbiaceae) and allies (Claoxylinae) with notes on leaf anatomy

Claoxylon and Micrococca are the only Euphorbiaceae genera that have rough dried leaves (fresh ones are smooth) because of protruding styloid (needle-like) crystals more or less perpendicular to the leaf surface, which perforate the epidermis and cuticle. A broad leaf anatomical study of the subtribes Claoxylinae, the monogeneric Lobaniliinae, and Mercurialis of the Mercurialinae (95 of a possible 235 species in all six genera) showed that styloids are present in Claoxylon, Discoclaoxylon, Erythrococca, Lobanilia, and Micrococca, and lacking in Claoxylopsis and Mercurialis. Contrary to Claoxylon, the dried leaves of Discoclaoxylon, Erythrococca, Lobanilia, and Micrococca are not rough, because the styloids do not perforate the epidermis during drying and therefore herbarium leaves generally remain smooth. The presence of styloids supports a clade in a recent molecular phylogenetic study that unites subtribes Claoxylinae and Lobaniliinae as Claoxylinae s.l. Mercurialis (no styloids) is sister to all other taxa (with styloids) in the monophyletic Claoxylinae s.l. The styloids form a synapomorphy for a monophyletic part of the Claoxylinae (Claoxylon, Discoclaoxylon, Erythrococca, Lobanilia, and Micrococca). Other leaf anatomical notes are provided, together with an overview of the occurrence of styloids, stomata, and druse crystals for most species in the Claoxylinae. The indumentum ranges from (virtually) absent to a sparse or dense tomentum of straight and thick- or thin-walled unicellular hairs (most common), curly hairs, or two-armed hairs (‘Malpighiaceous hairs’). The last two hair types probably form diagnostic characters for species groups within the genus Claoxylon

Anatomical alterations due to polyploidy in cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz

Information on anatomical structure is needed by breeders working on improvement for drought tolerance. For studying the effect of polyploidy on cassava anatomy and its significance to tolerance to drought, we induced a polyploidy type of a selected clone (UnB 530) by applying an aqueous solution of 0.2% colchicine on lateral buds for a period of 12 h. The stem identified as tetraploid was propagated to produce the whole plant. Free-hand cross-sections of the median portion between stem internodes were made. They were clarified using 50% sodium hypochlorite solution, stained with 1% safranin-alcian blue, passed through an ethanol series and butyl acetate and mounted in synthetic resin. The tetraploid type showed more prismatic and druse crystals in the cortical parenchyma, and its pericycle fibers had thicker walls. The secondary xylem of tetraploid types was wider than diploid ones, having thinner walls and less starch.

Isolated Medicago truncatula mutants with increased calcium oxalate crystal accumulation have decreased ascorbic acid levels

The mechanisms controlling oxalate biosynthesis and calcium oxalate formation in plants remain largely unknown. As an initial step toward gaining insight into these regulatory mechanisms we initiated a mutant screen to identify plants that over-accumulate crystals of calcium oxalate. Four new mutants were identified, from an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized Medicago truncatula (cv. Jemalong genotype A17) population, that over-accumulated calcium oxalate crystals. The increased calcium oxalate content of these new mutants, as with the previously isolated mutant cod4, resulted from an increase in druse crystals accumulated within the mesophyll cells of leaves. Complementation and segregation analysis revealed that each mutant was affected at a different locus. This was confirmed through the genetic mapping of each mutation to different linkage groups. Together, these findings emphasize the complexity of factors that can contribute to oxalate biosynthesis and crystal formation in these plants. In addition, each mutant showed a common decrease in ascorbic acid content providing genetic support for ascorbic acid as a precursor in the oxalate biosynthetic pathway for druse crystal formation. Further support was obtained by the ability of an exogenous supply of ascorbate to induce druse crystal formation while other tested organic acids did not induce crystal production.

Genetic evidence for differences in the pathways of druse and prismatic calcium oxalate crystal formation in Medicago truncatula

Current evidence supports a single pathway of oxalate biosynthesis utilising ascorbic acid as the precursor. In this study, we begin to address the possibility that more than one pathway of oxalate biosynthesis and calcium oxalate formation occurs in Medicago truncatula Gaertn. (cv. Jemalong genotype A17). Like the wild type, developing leaves of the calcium oxalate defective (cod) 4 mutant contain prismatic crystals along the vascular strand, but this mutant also hyper-accumulates druse crystals within the mesophyll cells. A second mutant, cod5, fails to accumulate prismatic crystals along the vascular strand, but is capable of wild type druse crystal accumulation in maturing leaves. To assess whether a single pathway of oxalate biosynthesis and calcium oxalate formation occurs in M. truncatula, we generated and characterised the cod4/cod5 double mutant. Microscopic examination of the cod4/cod5 revealed that the double mutant exhibits both cod4 and cod5 mutant crystal phenotypes simultaneously, suggesting there are differences in the pathways leading to the two crystal types. Measured ascorbic acid levels and ascorbate induction studies were consistent with the acid as precursor to oxalate in druse crystal formation but not necessarily prismatic crystal formation. On the basis of these findings, we propose a working model depicting possible pathways of oxalate biosynthesis and calcium oxalate formation.

Irregular vittae and druse crystals in Steganotaenia fruits support a taxonomic affinity with the subfamily Saniculoideae (Apiaceae)

The three-dimensional structure of the vittae and crystals of Steganotaenia araliacea was studied for the first time to allow a rigorous comparison with members of the subfamily Saniculoideae, where these two characters are of diagnostic value. The irregular vittae were found to be branching and anastomosing and druse crystals dispersed in the mesocarp. Both these states are predominant in the Saniculoideae but very rare in Apioideae. In the subfamily Apioideae, regular vittae (vallecular and commissural, or cyclic) are present and druse crystals, if present, occur in the commissural side only. The absence of regular vittae and the presence of irregular vittae and dispersed druse crystals further support the exclusion of Steganotaenia from the subfamily Apioideae but support its hypothesized relation to the Saniculoideae, where large rib ducts combined with irregular vittae (branching or anastomosing) and dispersed druse crystals are typical. This study has led to a better understanding of the taxonomic value of irregular vittae and crystals.

Composition and synthesis of raphide crystals and druse crystals in berries of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon: Ascorbic acid as precursor for both oxalic and tartaric acids as revealed by radiolabelling studies

Biomineralisation in the fleshy pericarp of berries of Vitis vinifera L. gives rise to crystals of two distinct forms, viz. raphides and druses, which are found in exocarp and endocarp cells respectively. Druses have generally been considered as crystalline aggregates of calcium oxalate. However, the organic moiety of raphide crystals has been commonly accepted as tartrate, although we have found no analytical data to support that assumption. We now present TEM and X-ray powder diffraction analysis data showing that raphide crystals of V. vinifera berries are composed of calcium oxalate monohydrate. This work also established ascorbic acid as the biosynthetic precursor of both oxalic and tartaric acids. When ascorbic acid labelled with 14C at position 1 was introduced into berries via the rachis, 21% and 52% of the added radiolabel was recovered as oxalic and tartaric acids respectively. Purified crystals from the radiolabelled grape berries contained approximately 20% of the original radioactivity, further confirming the role of ascorbic acid in oxalic acid biosynthesis. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence to be published on the formation of oxalic and tartaric acids from ascorbic acid via two distinct pathways operating within the same physiological entity (organ).

Influence of the calcium oxalate defective 4 ( cod4) mutation on the growth, oxalate content, and calcium content of Medicago truncatula

Calcium oxalate crystal formation has been well documented in plants. The pathway(s) and regulatory mechanism(s) of crystal formation and function, however, remain largely unknown. As a step toward expanding our understanding of crystal formation and function, we characterize the oxalate over-accumulating mutant calcium oxalate defective 4 ( cod4). Measurements of oxalate content in the different cod4 tissues showed elevated levels in leaves, stems and pods, compared to the corresponding control tissues. Root oxalate content was similar between cod4 and controls. Microscopic examination of the cod4 tissues revealed that all of the tissues with elevated oxalate content accumulated druse crystals in addition to the prismatic crystals that are present in wild type. With the exception of pods, however, the calcium content did not increase in proportion to the increase in oxalate. Thus, more of the tissue calcium was partitioned into the crystalline form in the leaves and stems from cod4 than controls. Shoot biomass and chlorophyll measurements showed that the cod4 mutation also resulted in an overall reduction in plant growth and chlorophyll content.

Identification of intracellular calcium oxalate crystals in Chamelaucium uncinatum (Myrtaceae)

Intracellular inclusions in the pedicel and calyx-tube tissues of Chamelaucium uncinatum Schauer (Myrtaceae) flowers are irregular in shape. They were shown, by polarised light and scanning electron microscopy, to be birefringent 8.9–29.5 μm druse (i.e. aggregate) crystals. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that these crystals were predominantly composed of calcium. Histochemical and acid-solubility tests indicated that the crystals were calcium oxalate. Raman microprobe spectroscopy was used to confirm this chemical identity. The calcium oxalate crystals were located in xylem-vessel lumens and also in parenchyma cells adjacent to vascular tissues. Thus, the crystals may function to regulate soluble calcium concentrations in C. uncinatum tissues near sites where calcium is unloaded from the xylem.

인삼(Panax ginseng)에 존재하는 Calcium Oxalate 결정체의 분포, 유형 및 미세구조

본 연구는 인삼에 존재하는 calcium oxalate 결정체의 분포 위치, 형태 및 미세구조에 관하여 밝히고자 광학현미경, 조직화학적 방법 및 주사 전자현미경적 방법 등을 사용하여 연구 하였다. 인삼의 결정체는 calcium oxalate의 성분으로 구성되며, 결정체는 몸통뿌리, 지근, 뇌두, 줄기, 장엽병, 소엽병, 꽃대 등 대부분의 기관에서 관찰되었다 특히 지상부는 잎에서,지하부는 뇌두에서 가장 많은 결정체가 관찰되었다. 인삼에 존재하는 결정체는 silver nitrate-rubeanic acid를 사용한 조직화학적 반응을 실시한 결과 calcium oxalate치 성분으로 확인되었다. 또한 주사전자현미경으로 관찰한 결과 삼각뿔 형태의 결정체가 다수 모여서 형성된 유형, 프리즘 형태의 소결정이 모여서 형성된 유형 및 얇은 판상의 소결정이 모여서 형성된 유형 등 3가지 형태로 구분 할 수 있었다. Crystalline calcium oxalate occur throughout near)y all plants species in five major forms; styloids, druses, raphids, prisms and sands. These crystals are known to be distributed in specific tissue such as cortex, xylem, phloem, cambium and epidermis. This research was undertaken to identify the occurrence, type, location and ultrastructure of druse crystals in Panax ginseng. In situ visualization, conventional light microscopy, histochemistry and scanning electron microscopy were applied for these purposes. Druse crystals in ginseng were identified as calcium oxalate by silver nitraterubeanic acid histochemistry. Calcium oxalate crystals are observed in nearly all plant organs such as leaf, petiole, peduncle, stem, rhizome, tap root and lateral root except fine root. Most frequent observation of crystals in the leaf and rhizomes were noticed. Three different types of calcium of oxalate druse crystals were identified by scanning electron microscopy.