Phytoliths in selected ferns from southwestern China.

Ferns are important plants both to ecosystems and humans, while the organic tissues of ferns might be hard to find due to the taphonomical condition. Thus, phytoliths in ferns might provide helpful information while other proxies were absent. In this study, we surveyed the production and morphology of phytoliths in 25 fern species belonging to 15 families. The results showed that more than half of the studied species were non-phytoliths producers, while in phytoliths producers, the production rate could reach 712,995 grains/g of dry material. We confirmed and found that I rregular anticlinal , P rismatic elongate , E longate sinuate , S pheroidal cavate granulate , S ilicified epidermis granulate , A moeboid branchiate and P rismatic cubic might be the potential diagnostic phytoliths types for ferns. • We studied the common ferns in southern China to understand phytolith production in them. • Phytolith production ranged from 0 (not observed) to 712995 grains/g in the studied 25 specimens. • 12 morphotypes of phytoliths have been observed, and 7 of them might be the potential diagnostic phytoliths types for ferns. • This study could aid colleagues in finding fern residues both in natural and anthropological sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]