Occurrence, diversity and taxonomic implication of calcium oxalate crystals in some members of lamiaceae and allied taxa

Diversity of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals in stem and petiole of 46 species of Lamiaceae and allied taxa collected from different parts of Upper Gangetic Plain and adjacent Shivalik hills of Indian subcontinent have been examined with the help of electric photo-light microscope. It is interesting to notice that in genus Ocimum, and Mosla dianthera crystals are formed in epidermal tissues and trichomes. Although Tectona and Callicarpa now are supposed to be quite distinct, druses can only be seen in both these genera. The structural organization of crystal forms can be specific and distinct between taxa. The presence of different crystal forms in Lamiaceae and allied taxa provide additional diagnostic features for classification at subfamily level. The data in the present study is not large enough and can not be used as such as a rule at family level until or unless it covers a large number of taxa of this family. Anybody can add data in this study to make it large so that it may be useful at family level. On the basis of taxa studied, a possible description at subfamily level along with bracketed key have been given in the following paragraph. Kewwords: Upper Gangetic Plain, India, Lamiaceae, Stem, Petiole, Calcium oxalatecrystal