Variation and distribution of calcium oxalate crystals in species of the family Araceae

The family Araceae includes 2500 species within 110 genera they protect themselves from weeds and animal predators by forming insoluble salts in the form of calcium oxalate crystals in specialized cells called idioblasts. This research investigates the types of calcium oxalate crystals in three species of the Araceae family, namely Arum palaestinum, Arum dioscoridis, and Arisarum vulgare. Based on the transverse section of different plant parts including tubers, leaves, spathe, appendix, male flowers, and female flowers five forms including raphide crystal, star crystal, prismatic crystal, styloid crystal, and sand crystal were identified. Raphides were uniformly present in all parts of the three species, but the positions of other crystal forms varied within their organs. This study also confirmed different types of specialized cells (idioblasts) containing raphid crystals. Idioblasts are unaltered cells with wide, elongated, tubular, and spindle shapes, housing simple, compound, and oblique-overlapping bundles. Additionally, certain plant parts displayed calcium oxalate crystals on their exterior surfaces, detached from the tissues.