Silica Phytolith
This is an example of a grass phytolith from Eastern
Washington State. This is a Pine/grassland environment. These
silica phytoliths are a significant part of the soil in grasslands.
Transmitted Circular Polarized Light Illumination
Definition/Function:
Significance in the Environment:
Silica phytoliths are very common in grassland soils. They are a common airborne
particle in grassland environments. The longer rods may be an upper
respiratory irritant similar to glass fiber but that has not been adequately
investigated.
Characteristic Features:
Silica phytoliths are colorless, isotropic, and have a refractive index around 1.46.
They come in a wide variety of shapes and can be used to
characterize the plants in an environment or paleo-environment.
Associated Particles:
References:
