Evidence of formation of glushinskite as a biomineral in a Cactaceae species.
The X-ray diffractometric and infrared spectroscopic investigation of crystalline material isolated from the Cactaceae species Opuntia ellisiana shows the presence of a very complex mineral composition, including whewellite (monohydrated calcium oxalate), opal (SiO2), calcite (CaCO3) and glushinskite (dihydrated magnesium oxalate). This is the first report of the presence of magnesium oxalate in plants.