title: Phytolith assemblages in grasses native to central Argentina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Phytolith reference collections are a prerequisite for accurate interpretation of soil phytolith assemblages aimed at reconstructing past vegetation. In this study a phytolith reference collection has been developed for several grasses native to central Argentina: Poa ligularis, Piptochaetium napostaense, Stipa clarazii, Stipa tenuis, Stipa tenuissima, Stipa eriostachya, Stipa ambigua, Stipa brachychaeta, Pappophorum subbulbosum, Digitaria californica, Bothriochloa edwardsiana and Aristida subulata.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each species, phytoliths present in the leaf blades were classified into 47 morphotypes, and their relative frequency determined by observing 300-400 phytoliths per sample (n = 5). Data were analyzed by complete linkage cluster analysis, using the Morisita Index as measure of association.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed differentiation among phytolith assemblages at species level or at plant functional type level. Cluster analysis separated C3 from C4 species and palatable from non-palatable species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the possibility of reconstructing past vegetation in central Argentina grasslands through the analysis of soil phytolith assemblages.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur and CERZOS, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina, San Andrés 800, 8000-Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Lucrecia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.forename: Roberto A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Distel
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D008853:Microscopy; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide