Silica deposition in plants: Scaffolding the mineralization.

Protein activity concentrate silicic acid beyond its saturation and polymeric structures at the cell wall stabilize it and allow its flow with the transpiration stream, or bind it and allow its initial condensation. Nucleation and further polymerization is enabled on a polymeric scaffold, which is embedded within the mineral. Deposition is terminated once free silicic acid is consumed or the chemical moieties for its binding are saturated.