A REVIEW OF ANATOMICAL AND PHYTOLITH STUDIES OF CYSTOLITHS: SILICA-CALCIUM PHYTOLITHS IN DICOTYLEDONOUS ANGIOSPERMS

FERNANDEZ HONAINE, M.; BORRELLI, N.; MARTÍNEZ TOSTO, M.C.

BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2023

0024-4074

Cystoliths are phytoliths compound of silica and calcium carbonate and are produced in a rather limited group of plants. Different anatomical, and more recently phytolith, studies have described them in different families. In the present review, we analyze and integrate both type of research in order to compile the information about their formation and composition, their distribution in vascular plants, their relation with anatomy and systematics, and the potential roles in plant tissues. We also include some analyses in specimens where the family cystolith information was not precise. According to our review, cystoliths can be consider as Si-Ca phytoliths. They are well described in eight families; while in the otherfourteen the information is not conclusive. The production of cystoliths is limited todicotyledons, but there´s no a clear phylogenetic relation between the families producers. The accumulation is predominantly in epidermis of leaves and/or in parenchymatic rays of woods. Diverse roles related to photosynthesis enhancement and as Ca reservoirs have been assigned to cystoliths. The knowledge about its production among vascular plants is relevant for anatomical, systematic and ecological researches, but also for biogeochemicalstudies due to their importance as a source of Ca and Si into systems.