Stinging hair morphology and wall biomineralization across five plant families: Conserved morphology versus divergent cell wall composition.

Mineralization patterns are surprisingly diverse and involve three different biominerals deposited in different parts of individual trichomes with calcium phosphate a common component. The physical properties of different wall regions of the stinging trichomes are thus fine-tuned to optimize their function via modulation of wall thickness and differential element deposition. Similar function is apparently achieved through divergent wall compositions.