What is "idioblast"

Idioblast \Id"i*o*blast\ ([i^]d"[i^]*[-o]*bl[a^]st), n. [Ideo- + -blast.] (Bot.) An individual cell, differing greatly from its neighbours in regard to size, structure, or contents.

n. (context botany English) An isolated specialised cell found in the midst of an otherwise homogeneous group of cells in plant tissue.

An idioblast is an isolated plant cell that differs from neighboring tissues. They have various functions such as storage of reserves, excretory materials, pigments, and minerals. They could contain oil, latex, gum, resin, tannin or pigments etc. Some can contain mineral crystals such as acrid tasting and poisonous calcium oxalate or carbonate or silica. Any of the tissue or tissue systems of plants can contain idioblasts. Idioblasts are divided into three main categories: excretory, tracheoid, and sclerenchymatous.

Idioblasts can contain biforine cells that form crystals. The chemicals are excreted by the plant and stored in liquid or crystalline form. In bundles they are known as druse and as crystals they can be of raphide [needle] form. When the end of an idioblast is broken the crystals or other substance is ejected by internal water pressure. Idioblasts of calcium oxalate may function as a deterrent to herbivores, as a means of sequestering or storing calcium, or as a means of stiffening tissue structure.

Idioblast is the first full-length album by multidisciplinary artist John Fekner, recorded and released in 1984 under the name John Fekner City Squad. Primarily a visual artist and pioneer of the Street Art movement, Fekner began using audio tapes and creating sound components as part of his stencil graffiti art installations and video projects in the late 70s. In addition to playing keyboards, electronic drums and vocals, Fekner wrote and composed the music and lyrics for the eight songs on the album. Idioblast, released on Fekner's own independent record label Vinyl Gridlock Records, is an experimental and eclectic mix of songs featuring extensive sampling and tape loops of TV, radio, Native American voices, phone and airport controller transmissions over rock, rap and hip-hop beats.