Distribution of Calcium Oxalate Crystals in Ricinus Communis in Relation to Tissue Differentiation and Presence of Other Ergastic Substances

Abstract

Ergastic substances visible microscopically or identifiable microchemically in Ricinus include Ca oxalate, unsaturated fatty substances, starch, sugar, and also antho-cyanin and tannin in lesser amt. Ca oxalate druses occur throughout parenchyma tissues; solitary crystals lie adjacent to the fibres of the secondary phloem. Druse and fat idio-blasts differentiate in the 2d and 3d internodes of the stem apex. The max. conc, of both coincides with the max. conc, of sugar around the vascular networks of nodes and leaf centers, and along leaf veins. Starch accumulates heavily in the older stem and in the inflorescence axis. Druses and solitary crystals are enclosed in stalked crystal sheaths, and, as starch accumulates, druse crystals may disappear leaving the empty envelope. Distribution is compared in root, etiolated shoots, green and etiolated seedlings. Cell sizes are compared in successive internodes.