Charred Redshanks (Adenostoma sparsiflolium) Leaves

This is ash from the leaves of Redshanks collected in southern California. It was prepared in a laboratory muffle furnace. The ash content is high and tends to flux with the calcium compounds. A number of calcium oxalate phytoliths can be seen here but they are already being modified by the potassium and sodium residues in the ash. There are a couple of charred resin beads in this image.