[Diversity of phytoferritin arrangement in epithem of hydathodes in Taraxacum officinale and in Saxifraga aizoon].

In Taraxacum officinale and Saxifraga aizoon particular aggregations found in plastids of epithem are considered to be phytoferritin. The diversity of plant ferritin arrangement within the plastids is studied. High magnification study of these inclusions indicates that they can be classified morphologically into three distinct groups: dense and amorphous aggregate (F1), crystalline inclusion (F2) and diffuse paracrystalline arrangement (F3). The crystalline (F2) and amorphous (F1) structures are both present in the plastids of Saxifraga aizoon; similarly, paracrystalline (F3) and amorphous inclusions (F1) are both present in the plastids of Taraxacum officinale. Because of their location and the nature of their organization, we think that the phytoferritin complexes under discussion may be important in phytoferritin synthesis or phytoferritin utilization within the living plant.