Characteristics of the opal phytoliths derived from Piaceae leaves

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  • マツ科樹木の葉部に由来する植物ケイ酸体の特徴
  • マツカジュ モクノ ヨウブニ ユライ スル ショクブツ ケイサンタイ ノ トクチョウ

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Abstract

We directed our attention to the opal phytoliths originating from family Pinaceae, on which information is relatively scarce among the opal phytoliths of tree origin. In order to clarify the amount and morphological characteristics of the opal phytoliths derived from conifers, leaves of Pinaceae tree belonging to 6 genera and 53 species were employed as samples, which were grown in the University Forest, the Tokyo University (located in Yamabe, Furano citry, Hokkaido, Japan). The contents, morphology, and particles sizes of opal phytoliths isolated from these leaves were determined and compared. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The contents of opal phytoliths in the Pinaceae leaves were distributed in a broad range between 0.03〜1.76%. However, most phytolith contents were lower than 1.10%. Althoug the contents in Larix and Picea leaves were high and larger than 0.50%, the contents in Pinus, Abies, Tsuga, and Pseudotsuga leaves were very low at around 0.1%. 2. The phytoliths were originated mainly from epidermal cells, transfusion tracheid cells, endodermal cells, and stoma cells. More than half of the phytoliths in Pinus, Picea, and Abies leaves were originated from transfusion tracheid cells and endodermal cells. In Larix, opal phytoliths of epidermal cells and intercellular space were dominant, where as other types of opal phytoliths were rarely observed. 3. Phytoliths with a specific morphology were observed for each genus. Characteristics phytoliths were mesophyll phytoliths for Pinus, epidemal phytoliths with sinuous margins for Picea, endodermic phytoliths for Abies, transfusion tracheid phytoliths for Tsuga, epidermal and intercellular space phytoliths for Larix. 4. Very distinctive phytoliths were observed in some conifers, such as sub-epidermal for Pinus Ponderosa, astrosclereids for Douglus fir, epidermal phytoliths with smooth margins for Larix leptolepis, and intercellular space phytoliths for Larix gmelinii. These conifers were clearly distinguishable from on this basis. 5. Size of opal phytoliths from each conifer were generally similar : those from Pinus, Picea, and Abies were rather larger, and those from Tsuga were rather smaller. 6. The phytoliths from conifers can be distinguished only at the level of genera at present except some tree species. However, level by a examination of morphological characteristics and sizes, together with examination of size of bordered pits in transfusion tracheid phytoliths.

Journal

  • Pedologist

    Pedologist 47 (2), 90-103, 2003-12-31

    Japanese Society of Pedology

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