Idioblast

Some can contain mineral crystals such as acrid tasting and poisonous calcium oxalate, carbonate, or silica.

When the end of an idioblast is broken the crystals or other substance is ejected by internal water pressure.

[2] Excretory idioblasts store oils, lipids, tannins, mucilage, and minerals.

Sclerenchymatous idioblasts are thickened structural cells that provide stability and rigidity to the plant.

Druses are crystalline clusters that appear scale or box like and play structural roles in sclerenchymatous idioblasts.

When damaged, sap from the plant and saliva from the animal will cause the idioblast to swell and hydraulically shoot the raphides out.

[6] Consumption of the raphides can cause oral pain, vomiting, hypersalivation, and swelling of the pharynx.

The Vireya subgroup is believed to have developed specialized idioblasts to aid the water metrics within its small leaves to counter the lack of volume.