Abstract
The element silicon enters plants as a component of water-soluble monosilicic acid, Si(OH)4 (Barber and Shone, 1966), which is transported subsequently through the root, stem, and leaves. In any of these organs, polymerization to the solid, hydrated oxide SiO2 · nH2O, known as opaline silica or as silica gel (Kaufman et al, 1970), may occur at tissue sites, frequently in close proximity to the transpiration stream (Frey-Wyssling, 1930) in diverse groups of vascular plants ranging from the horsetails, representing the Pteridophyta, to many families of flowering plants in the Spermatophyta. This chapter includes a selective review of the literature on silicification emphasizing anatomical and ultrastructural aspects of the process.
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Sangster, A.G., Parry, D.W. (1981). Ultrastructure of Silica Deposits in Higher Plants. In: Simpson, T.L., Volcani, B.E. (eds) Silicon and Siliceous Structures in Biological Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5944-2_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5944-2_14
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