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Q. The crystals of calcium carbonate, which appear like a bunch of grapes in epidermal cells of the leaves of some plants, are called

AIIMSAIIMS 1999

Solution:

Calcium carbonate crystals have been reported from within the cells of Banyan leaf (Ficus benghalensis) and some members of the families Acanthaceae, Cucurbitacae, Urticariaceae, etc. In the leaf of Banyan they have been seen to occur in grape-like clusters hanging from a stalk that is attached to the cell wall. The name cystolith is given to such a cluster. Some cells contain star-shaped aggregation of crystals of calcium oxalate, which are known as sphaeraphides. Raphide is needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate occurring in bundles in certain plant cells. Otolith is gronule of calcium carbonate in vertebrate inner ear.