Calcium (Ca) oxalate crystals occur in many plant species and in most organs and tissues.

They
generally form within cells although extracellular crystals have been reported. The crystal cells or
idioblasts display ultrastructural modifications which are related to crystal precipitation. Crystal
formation is usually associated with membranes, chambers, or inclusions found within the cell
Microanalysis showed that crystals are chemically constituted by calcium oxalate near midveins,
whereas in the other parts of the leaf they are constituted by calcium oxalate associated with
potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur and chlorine.
Many plants have specialized cells, called crystal idioblasts, that contain single or multiple needle-like
crystals that appear to serve a primary function in bulk regulation of calcium in tissues and a
secondary function in defense against grazing animals. The needles of calcium oxalate can even
have grooves and barbs, which are thought to be responsible for channeling toxins or anchoring the
needles in the wound.
Some plants (e.g. wild taro) are known to contain needle-shaped calcium oxalate raphides and
should not be consumed. Leaf of wild taro, which is known to contain calcium oxalate raphides.
Broken parts of the leaf may contaminate vegetables during transportation or processing.
Other cases involved different types of vegetables, such as water spinach, Chinese white cabbage,
Chinese flowering cabbage and watercress. These vegetables are not supposed to contain calcium
oxalate raphides, and it is postulated that the vegetables might have been mixed with small amount of
raphide-containing plants and consumed. In some of these incidents, leaves of wild taro may have
been used to wrap or cover vegetables during transportation and processing.
Crystal formation appears to be influenced by plant species, pH of cell constituents, temperature,
light, oxalic acid concentration, Ca and other elemental contents and possibly cell turgidity.