Studies of Opaline Silica Deposits in the Leaf of Sieglingia decumbens L. ‘Bernh.’, using the Scanning Electron Microscope

Abstract

Opaline silica deposits (phytoliths) of intracellular origin were photographed at magnifications up to 10⁴ diameters. Because of the great depth of focus of the scanning microscope the phytoliths were visible in three-dimensional aspect. They were solid with a possible porous internal structure, and some possessed diagonal striae on the outer surface. The structural features revealed are related to phytolith models previously postulated from light microscope studies, and to secondary cell-wall structure. The porous internal structure is discussed in relation to possible physico-chemical formative processes.