Review of typologic and morphometric analysis of phytoliths produced by wheat and barley

Solid deposits of amorphous hydrated silica are formed at specific intracellular and extracellular locations in many plant taxa, including all taxa in Triticeae. These deposits of silica are called phytoliths, literally meaning "plant-rocks." Many plants produce phytoliths with morphological characteristics that appear unique to a given taxon, a phenomenon giving them taxonomic significance. When plant tissue decomposes, any phytoliths formed are released into the surrounding environment thus becoming microfossils of the plants that produced them. Analysis of microfossil phytoliths can provide information to researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including, archaeobotany, paleoecology, phytogeography and systematics. This paper reviews current methodologies and results of typologic and morphometric analysis of wheat and barley phytoliths.