Calcium oxalate crystals in the aragonite-producing green alga Penicillus and related genera
Friedmann EI, Roth WC, Turner JB, Mcewen RS. 1972. Calcium oxalate crystals in the aragonite-producing green alga Penicillus and related genera. Science. 177(4052):891-893
Calcium oxalate crystals occur in the marine green algae Pencillus, Rhipocephalus, and Udotea, known as producers of sedimentary aragonite needles. Penicillus is a major contributor of lime mud in NE Florida Bay (Everglades National Park). In contrast to the externally deposited aragonite crystals which are generally 15 micrometers long, the oxalate crystals are larger (up to 150 micrometers and are located in the vacuolar system of the plant). No calcium oxalate was found in the related but noncalcifying genera Avrainvillea and Cladocephalus. Study Type: Qualitative; Dominant Taxon/Taxa Studied: Penicillus dumentosus; Biological Component: Marine green alga.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Friedmann, E; Roth, William; Turner, James; Mcewen, Ronald
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Algae, Aragonite, calcium oxalate (CaC204), Ecology, Florida Bay Everglades National Park FL, Limestone, Physical Sciences