Raphides in urginea indica kunth. Liliacea

Micromorphological traits play a significant role both in systematic and functional aspects of plant survival in response to environmental stimuli. Plant structural trait such as raphides play a vital role in protecting plants from herbivore attack, cause discomfort by physical and chemical irritation by dermal contact to soft tissue thus acts as defensive mechanism. These morphological characteristics may have evolved as response to other environmental stimuli. The presence of raphides (Calcium oxalate crystals) in the anther endothecium represents a rare character, reported in the present study which is of systematic significance. In the present study raphides are present in vegetative and reproductive parts of Urginea indica. The mild inflammation and irritation caused when the bulb is rubbed on the skin reveals that it takes part both in mechanical and chemical irritation when they come in contact with tender tissue and protect themselves against herbivore attack. Results indicate that raphide bundle size varies considerably within species. These suggest that, Raphides have some potential to be a useful taxonomic tool. Polarized microscope shows variation in the colouration of raphides