OPAL PHYTOLITHS IN THREE INDIAN THELYPTEROID FERNS
JAIDEEP MAZUMDAR *
DUGC Centre for Advanced Study, Department of Botany, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, 713104, INDIA
RADHANATH MUKHOPADHYAY *
DUGC Centre for Advanced Study, Department of Botany, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, 713104, INDIA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Opal phytoliths have been recovered from fresh leaf laminae of Christella dentata(Forssk.) Brownsey & Jermy, Ampelopteris prolifera (Retz.) Copel. and Cyclosorus interruptus (Willd.) H. Itô of family Thelypteridaceae. In all these plant materials most phytoliths are three dimensional, nearly globular to amorphous, hyaline and with smooth or granular surfaces. Few are thick plate-like with irregular margins. Size varies from 6-35 μm in length and 4-33 μm in width.
Keywords: Opal phytolith, fern, Thelypteridaceae