The Need of Time:Phytoliths for Earth Science

摘要

Phytoliths take the shape and size of the cells from which they are formed.They are microscopic and composed of opal silica—SiO₂ and other traces of Al, Fe,Mn,P,Cu,N and organic carbon.Phytoliths are present in the roots,leaves,stem and the rest parts of the plant body including inflorescences.The shapes of phytolith can be used to determine the taxonomy of the plants,which may be dumbbell,squares,rectangular,