Raphide
![Raphides in Epipremnum Devil's ivy (600x magnification)](/Images/godic/202502/06/Raphides_from_variegated_ivy0827.jpg")
![Raphides in Hypoestes phyllostachya, the polka dot plant](/Images/godic/202502/06/Raphide0827.jpg")
Raphides are needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate as the monohydrate or calcium carbonate as aragonite, found in more than 200 families of plants. Both ends are needle-like, but raphides tend to be blunt at one end and sharp at the other.