Topic summary
Raphide

Raphides ( ; singular raphide or raphis) are needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate monohydrate (prismaticmonoclinic crystals) or calcium carbonate as aragonite (dipyramidalorthorhombic crystals), found in more than 200 families of plants. Both ends appear needle-like, but raphides tend to be blunt at one end and sharp at the other.