In bundles they are known as druse and as crystals they can be of raphide [ needle ] form.
2.
Electron micrographs have shown that raphide needle crystals are normally four sided or H-shaped ( with a groove down both sides ) or with a hexagonal cross section and some are barbed.
3.
;Phytochemistry : The seeds contain saponins but no calcium oxalate raphide crystals, chelidonic acid ( unlike Asparagales ) or cysteine derived sulphur compounds ( allyl sulphides ), another distinguishing feature from the characteristic Toxicology)
4.
The stem ( a corm ) is edible, but contains raphid or raphide crystals of Calcium oxalate along with other irritants ( possibly a protease ) that can numb and swell the tongue and pharynx resulting in difficult breathing, and sharp throat pain.
5.
Crystal morphology and the distribution of raphides ( in roots or leaves or tubers etc . ) is similar in same taxa but different in others leaving possible opportunities for plant key characteristics and systematic identification; mucilage in raphide containing cells makes light microscopy difficult, though.
6.
Raphides cannot normally be destroyed by boiling; that requires an acidic environment or chemical solvents like ether, but heating raphide containing plant materials ( like tubers ) can fix the raphides into a dried starchy matrix so they are no longer mobile and thus less harmful.
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