Click on phytolith types below to view SEM images

Grass phytoliths

• long cells
• smooth
• strongly indented (Agropyron spicatum-type)
• weakly and rarely indented (Festuca idahoensis-type)
• short cells - rondels
• rounded top, keeled bottom ("keeled type")
• rounded top, horned bottom ("horned type")
• oblong top, keeled bottom ("oval type")
• square top, square bottom ("pyramidal, or square, type")
• short cells - bilobates
• true bilobates (i.e., Panicoids)
• Stipa-type bilobates
• short cells - saddles (i.e., Chloridoids)
• straight plates
• rectangular smooth
• wavy plates ("crenates", common in Pooids)
• slightly wavy with few undulations
• slightly wavy with many undulations
• wavy/lobed with 3-4 undulations
• wavy/lobed with 5 or more undulations
• trichomes and hairs
• large and long trichome
• hairbase

Non-grass phytoliths

• blocky smooth surface rounded
• blocky smooth surface angular
• blocky sculptured surface
• Pinus ponderosa-type
• flat polyhedral (e.g., epidermal Artemisia tridentata)
• epidermal anticlinal (e.g., epidermal Compositae)

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