Schoenoplectus lacustris (Common club-rush)
Phytoliths viewed under 100x magnification
Acicular hairs (articulated)
S. Prado
MPERF - modern sample
Collected by Royal Botanic Garden
(Burlington, Ontario, Canada)
Processed December 13 2021
Phytolith
Phytolith
Schoenoplectus lacustris (Common club-rush)
Phytoliths viewed under 100x magnification
Cone phytoliths typical of sedges
Supporting literature:
Mehra, PN and Sharma, OP 1965 Epidermal silica ceIls in the Cyperaceae. Botanical Gazette 126: 53-58.
Ollendorf, A.L., 1992. Toward a classification scheme of sedge (Cyperaceae) phytoliths. In: Rapp, G., Mulholland, S.C. (Eds.), Phytolith Systematics: Emerging Issues. Plenum Press, New York, pp. 91–111.
S. Prado
MPERF - modern sample
Collected by Royal Botanic Garden
(Burlington, Ontario, Canada)
Processed December 13 2021
Phytolith
Phytolith
Equisetum arvense (Field/Common Horsetail)
Phytoliths viewed under 200-400x
Stomata and epidermal phytoliths.
Stomata and epidermal cells are diagnostic at the genus level (Equisetum). Epidermal cells feature "granulate surfaces and elevated projections along the edges" (Morris et al. 2009: 346; Piperno 2006).
Supporting literature:
Piperno, D.R. 2006. Phytoliths: A comprehensive guide for archaeologists and paleoecologists. AltaMira Press. pg 190.
Morris, L.R., Baker, F.A., Morris, C., and Ryel, R.J. 2009. Phytolith types and type-frequencies in native and introduced species of the sagebrush steppe and pinyon-juniper woodlands of the Great Basin, USA. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 157: 339–357.
S. Prado
MPERF - modern sample
Collected by Royal Botanic Garden (Burlington, Ontario, Canada)
Processed November 11 2021
Phytolith
Phytolith
Triticum dicoccum (Emmer)
Phytoliths viewed under 400x - 630x
Elongate dendritic long cells (multi-cellular articulated) - Diagnostic
Plant part: cereal inflorescence
S. Prado
MPERF - modern sample
Processed May 19 2021
Phytolith
Phytolith
Triticum monococcum (Einkorn)
Phytoliths viewed under 200x - 400x
Elongate dendritic long cells (multi-cellular articulated) - Diagnostic
Plant part: cereal inflorescence
S. Prado
MPERF - modern sample
Processed May 19 2021
Phytolith
Phytolith
Hordeum vulgare (var. Bere) (Barley)
Phytoliths viewed under 400x
Elongate dendritic long cells (multi-cellular articulated) - Diagnostic
Plant part: cereal inflorescence
S. Prado
MPERF - modern sample
Processed May 19 2021
S. Prado
Phytolith
Phytolith
Triticum spelta (Spelt Wheat)
Silica skeletons viewed under 630x
Elongate dendritic long cells (multi-cellular articulated) - Diagnostic
Plant part: cereal inflorescence
S. Prado
MPERF - modern sample
Processed May 19 2021
Phytolith
Phytolith
Hordeum vulgare (var. Bere) (Barley)
Silica skeletons viewed under 630x transmitted light
Elongate dendritic long cells (multi-cellular articulated) - Diagnostic
Plant part: cereal inflorescence
S. Prado
MPERF - modern sample
Processed May 19 2021
Phytolith
Phytolith