Characteristics of Phytolith on Rice Leaf

Silica bodies (phytoliths) are becoming of wide use for pedology, archaeology, paleobotany and paleoecology in botany. This study investigated morphological differences of silica bodies in the lamina of wild, indica type, and japonica type rice. Phytoliths in the epidermis of lamina showed noticeable difference among tested plants. Besides, there were also significant differences in the shape and distribution of the silica bodies around stomata and trichomes. Silica bodies in the lamina of the rice plants could be used to classify subspecies of Oryza genus.