Cells and Organnelles

Druse are groups of crystals of calcium oxalate,[1] silicates, or carbonates present in plants.
Calcium
oxalate (Ca(COO)2, CaOx) crystals are found inalgae, angiosperms and gymnosperms in a total of more
than 215 families. These plants accumulate oxalate in the range of 3%-80% (w/w) of their dry weight [2]
[3]
via a biomineralization process in a variety of shapes.[4] Araceae have numerous druse, multi-crystal
druse and needle shaped raphidecrytals of CaOx present in the tissue.[5] Druse are also found in leaves
and bud scales of Prunus, Roses,[6] Allium, Vitus, Morus and Phaseolus.[7][8]The poisonous substances in
druse are thought to be a defense against herbivory.
How Druse are Formed

A number of biochemical pathways for calcium oxalate biomineralization in plants have been proposed.
Among these are the cleavage of isocitrate, thehydrolysis of oxaloacetate, glycolate/glyoxylate oxidation,
and/or oxidative cleavage of L-ascorbic acid.[9] The cleavage of ascorbic acid appears to be the most
studied pathway.[10][11][12][13] The specific mechanism controlling this process is unclear but it has been
suggested that a number of factors influence crystal shape and growth, such as proteins,
polysaccharides, and lipids or macromolecular membrane structures.[14][15][16] Druse may also have some
purpose in calcium regulation.
Raphides are needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate as the monohydrate or calcium carbonate as
aragonite, found in more than 200 families of plants. Both ends are needle-like, but raphides tend to be
blunt at one end and sharp at the other. Little is known about the mechanisms of sequestration or indeed
the reason for accumulation of raphides but it is most likely as a defense mechanism against herbivory. It
has also been suggested that in some cases raphides may help form plant skeletal structure. Raphides
typically occur in parenchyma cells in aerial organs especially the leaves, and are generally confined to
the mesophyl. As the leaf area increases, so does the number of raphides, the process starting in even
young leaves. The first indications that the cell will contain crystals is shown when the cells enlarge with a
larger nucleus. [2]
Raphides are found in specialized plant cells or crystal chambers called idioblasts.[3] Electron micrographs
have shown that raphide needle cystals are normally four sided or H-shaped (with a groove down both
sides) or with a hexagonal cross section and some are barbed. Wattendorf (1976) suggested that all
circular sectioned raphides, as visible in a light microscope, are probably hexagonal in cross
section[4] Microscopy using polarized light shows bright opalescence with raphides.
ORGANELLE LOCATION DESCRIPTION FUNCTION
cell wall plant, not *outer layer *support (grow tall)

animal *rigid, strong, stiff *protection
*made of cellulose *allows H2O, O2, CO2 to
pass into and out of cell
cell membrane both *plant - inside cell wall *support

plant/animal *animal - outer layer; *protection
cholesterol *controls movement of
*selectively permeable materials in/out of cell
*barrier between cell and
its environment
*maintains homeostasis
nucleus both *large, oval *controls cell activities

plant/animal
nuclear both *surrounds nucleus *Controls movement of

membrane plant/animal *selectively permeable materials in/out of nucleus
cytoplasm both *clear, thick, jellylike *supports /protects cell

plant/animal material and organelles organelles
found inside cell
membrane
endoplasmic both *network of tubes or *carries materials through

reticulum (E.R.) plant/animal membranes cell
ribosome both *small bodies free or *produces proteins

plant/animal attached to E.R.
mitochondrion both *bean-shaped with inner *breaks down sugar

plant/animal membranes molecules into energy
vacuole plant - *fluid-filled sacs *store food, water, waste

few/large (plants need to store large
animal - small amounts of food)
lysosome plant - *small, round, with a *breaks down larger food

uncommon membrane molecules into smaller
animal - molecules
common *digests old cell parts
chloroplast plant, not *green, oval usually *uses energy from sun to
animal containing chlorophyll make food for the plant
(green pigment) (photosynthesis)

Cells and Organnelles

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Druse are groups of crystals of calcium oxalate,[1] silicates, or carbonates present in plants.

How Druse are Formed

cell wall plant, not outer layer support (grow tall)

cell membrane both plant - inside cell wall support

nucleus both large, oval controls cell activities

nuclear both surrounds nucleus Controls movement of

cytoplasm both clear, thick, jellylike supports /protects cell

endoplasmic both network of tubes or carries materials through

ribosome both small bodies free or produces proteins

mitochondrion both bean-shaped with inner breaks down sugar

vacuole plant - fluid-filled sacs store food, water, waste

lysosome plant - small, round, with a breaks down larger food

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