YNU research team discovers silica biomineralization in 250-million-year-old fossils

Many people have experienced the sharp sting of grass slicing their skin as though cut by a tiny blade. A team led by Feng Zhuo from Yunnan University's Institute of Paleontology recently discovered that plants developed this defense mechanism – known as silica biomineralization – as far back as 250 million years ago.

According to Feng, certain plants, such as spike mosses, horsetails, grasses, sedges, and some ferns, are adept at silica biomineralization. These plants deposit tiny "glass shards" known as phytoliths in their leaves, enhancing their resilience, toughness, and resistance to pests and environmental stress.

The research team used innovative methods to study 250-million-year-old spike moss fossils from Qujing, Yunnan. While traditional fossil analysis dissolves silicon-rich structures, Feng's team used hydrochloric acid and heat treatment to preserve phytoliths within the fossils, achieving intact samples.

This breakthrough confirms that early spike mosses already possessed sophisticated silica-based defenses. The findings, recently published in the journal National Science Review, shed light on the evolution of plant resilience.