STARCH GRAIN DATABASE


Welcome to the Starch Grain Database! Here you can find images of starch grains, collected from modern plant species. 

The images are organized by family. The families currently represented in the database:
Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Araceae, Bixaceae, Brassicaceae, Convolvuvaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Cycadaceae, Cyperaceae, Dioscoraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Heliconiaceae, Juncaceae, Lauraceae, Liliaceae, Malvaceae, Marantaceae, Moraceae, Musaceae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Solanaceae, Typhaceae, and Zingiberaceae. 

Images in the collection include native plants from Mesoamerica, North and South America, Oceania, China, South East Asia, and West Africa. This page is under construction, so keep coming back to check for new additions. The aim is to create a database that scholars can consult, and also a place where starch-grain research can expand. Photos of damaged grains (mechanical or heat) are also included whenever possible. Photos have been taken under polarized light (labeled "polarized" or "PL"), transmitted light (labeled as "transmitted" or "TL"), or using differential interference contrast (DIC). 

If you're interested in submitting photos from your own research (i.e. reference collection) to include on this page, please contact me. You'll receive full credits for your images, and photos can be linked to your email, project website, etc. 
As usual, I appreciate any feedback, questions, and suggestions. Feel free to use these images for your research or interest, but I would appreciate if you could kindly cite the website and/or the photographer in your work. Thank you! ¡Gracias!

ANACARDIACEAE

Mango Mangifera indica starch grains
Mango starch grains (TL)
 Mangifera indica ​L.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification: x 600
Project: South Asia
​

ANNONACEAE

Annona cherimola custard apple starch grain
Custard apple starch grains (transmitted)
Annona cherimola Mill.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification: x 600
Project: South America
​

ARACEAE

Macal Xanthosoma Starch grain photoStarch grains of macal, malanga, cocoyam (polarized)
















Xanthosoma sp. 
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

BIXACEAE

Achiote starch grain bixa orellana granos de almidonStarch grains of achiote (polarized)
 




Bixa orellana ​L.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

BRASSICACEAE​

Turnip Brassica rapa starch grain
Turnip starch grain (PL)
Brassica rapa var. rapa ​L.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 600
 
Black radish Raphanus sativus starch grain
Black Radish (TL)
Raphanus sativus var. sativus 
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 600
​

CONVOLVULACEAE

Sweet potato starch grains granos de almidon Ipomoea batatasStarch grains of sweet potato (polarized)
Ipomoea batatas ​(L.) Lam.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica/ South America
 Sweet potato starch grainStarch grains of sweet potato (DIC)
Ipomoea batatas ​(L.) Lam.
Photo: J. Field
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania

CUCURBITACEAE
Starch grains of squash (C. pepo) granos de almidonStarch grains of acorn squash (polarized)










Cucurbita pepo L.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

cucurbita pepo squash starchStarch grains of acorn squash (transmitted)














Cucurbita pepo L.
Photo: Stephanie Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica
 cucurbita pepo squash starchStarch grains of acorn squash (polarized)














Cucurbita pepo L.
Photo: Stephanie Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica
Sechium edule chayote starch grainsStarch grains of chayote (transmitted)











Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica


CYCADACEAE

Cycas media starch grain cycadStarch grains of cycad (DIC)







Cycas media R. Br.
Photo: J. Field
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania

CYPERACEAE​

Bolboschoenus maritimus starch grain
Saltmarsh bulrush starch grain (PL)
Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla
Photo. L. Brambilla Gasques
Project: Anatolia
​
Cyprus fuscus starch grain
Brown flatsedge starch grains (PL)
Cyperus fuscus L.
​Photo. L. Brambilla Gasques
Project: Anatolia
​

DIOSCORACEAE

Purple yam starch grainsStarch grains of purple yam (DIC)
Dioscorea alata L.
Photo: J. Field
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania
yam starch grain D. balcanicaStarch grains of yams (polarized light)


























Dioscorea balcanica
Photo: V. Raman
Magnification x 400
Project: Europe
Air yam starch grainsStarch grains of air yam (DIC)













Dioscorea bulbifera L.
Photo: J. Field
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania
Pacific yam starch grainsStarch grains of Pacific yam (DIC)














Dioscorea nummularia Roxb.
Photo: J. Field
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania
yam starch grain D. polystachaStarch grains of (Chinese) yam (transmitted light, stained)


















Dioscorea polystacha Turcz.
Photo: V. Raman
Magnification x 100
Project: Asia
yam starch grain D. rotundataStarch grains of (Guinea) yam (transmitted light, stained)












Dioscorea rotundata Poir.
Photo: V. Raman
Magnification x 400
Project: Africa
Yam starch grainsStarch grains of yam (DIC)














Dioscorea trifida L.
Photo: J. Field
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania

Yam Dioscorea starch raphidesYam starch and raphides (transmitted)














Dioscorea sp.
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400

 Yam Dioscorea starch raphidesYam starch and raphides (polarized)














Dioscorea sp.
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400

EUPHORBIACEAE

Manioc starch grains grilled yuca granos de almidonStarch grains of grilled manioc (transmitted)














Manihot esculenta Crantz.
Photo. J. Regner
Magnification: x 400
Project: West Africa/Damaged Grains
 Manioc starch grains polarized light yuca granos de almidonStarch grains of grilled manioc (polarized)














Manihot esculenta Crantz.
Photo: J. Regner
Magnification: x 400
Project: West Africa/Damaged Grains
Manioc starch grains yuca granos de almidonStarch grains of manioc (polarized)






Manihot esculenta Crantz.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

FABACEAE

PictureStarch grains of black bean (DIC)




Castanospermum australe A. Cunn. & C. Fraser
Photo: J. Field
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania

Canavalia starchCanavalia grains (transmitted)
Canavalia plagiosperma Piper 
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica
 Canavalia starchCanavalia grains (polarized)













Canavalia plagiosperma Piper   
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica
jicama starch grain granos de almidonStarch grains of jicama (polarized)
Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica
Wild bean Phaseolus augustii starchWild bean grain (transmitted)













Phaseolus augustii Harms 
  Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

Phaseolus vulgaris starch grainStarch grains of the common bean (Semi-polarized)
















Phaseolus vulgaris L.
Photo: Sheahan Bestel
Magnification: x 400
Project: Mesoamerica
kudzu starch grains; pueraria lobataStarch grains of kudzu root (Semi-polarized)














Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi
Photo: Sheahan Bestel
Magnification: x 400
Project: China
 Jicama starch grain poundedStarch grains of pounded jicama root (polarized)












Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica/Damaged grains
Wild bean Phaseolus augustii starchWild bean grain (polarized)













Phaseolus augustii Harms
   Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

Phaseolus vulgaris starch grainStarch grains of the common bean (Polarized)
















Phaseolus vulgaris L.
Photo: Sheahan Bestel
Magnification: x 400
Project: Mesoamerica
kudzu starch grains; pueraria lobataStarch grains of kudzu root (Polarized)














Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi
Photo: Sheahan Bestel
Magnification: x 400
Project: China
Black-eyed peas starch grains granos de almidonStarch grains of black-eyed peas (transmitted)











Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata
Photo: J. Regner
Magnification: x 400
Project: West Africa
 black eyed peas starch grains granos de almidonStarch grains of black-eyed peas (polarized)











Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata
Photo: J. Regner
Magnification: x 400
Project: West Africa
Mung bean, starch grainStarch grains of mung beans (Semi-polarized)














Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek
Photo: Sheahan Bestel
Magnification: x 400
Project: China

FAGACEAE

Black Oak Starch Grain Quercus
California Black Oak starch grains (TL)
Black Oak starch grain Quercus
California Black Oak starch grains (PL)
Quercus kelloggii  
Photo: J. Wisely
Magnification x 400
Project: North America

HELICONIACEAE

Heliconia starchHeliconia starch grains (transmitted)














Heliconia sp.  
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica
 Heliconia starchHeliconia starch grains (polarized)














Heliconia sp.  
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

JUNCACEAE

Juncus sp.
​Photo. L. Brambilla Gasques
Project: Anatolia
​

LAURACEAE

Starch grain avocado Persea americana
Starch grains of avocado (polarized)
Persea americana Mill.
 Photo: C.Cagnato
Magnification x 600
Project: Mesoamerica
​

LILIACEAE

Calochortus monophyllus starch grain
Yellow Star-Tulip starch grains (TL)
Yellow star-tulip starch grains
Yellow Star-Tulip starch grains (PL)
Calochortus monophyllus 
 Photo: J. Wisely
Magnification x 400
Project: North America


MALVACEAE

Kurrajong starch grainsStarch grains of kurrajong (DIC)









Brachychiton populneus (Schott & Endl.) R. Br.
 Photo: J. Field
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania


MARANTACEAE

Arrowroot Maranta arundinacea starchArrowroot starch grains (transmitted)














Maranta arundinacea L.   
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica
 Arrowroot Maranta arundinacea starchArrowroot starch grains (polarized)














Maranta arundinacea L.    
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica


MORACEAE

Starch grains ramon Brosimum alicastrum Mayanut Starch grains of ramon seed (polarized)






Brosimum alicastrum Sw.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification: x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

MUSACEAE​

Banana starch grain Musa acuminata
Banana starch grain (TL)
Banana Musa acuminata starch grain
Banana starch grain (PL)
Musa acuminata
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification: x 600
Project: South East Asia

​

MYRTACEAE

Allspice starch grains Pimenta dioica granos de almidonStarch grains of allspice (transmitted)







Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification X 400
Project: Mesoamerica

PIPERACEAE

Kava starch grains, Piper methysticum starch
Kava starch grains--stained with iodine--(TL)
Piper methysticum L.
Photo: R. Blackledge/W. Moorehead
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania


POACEAE

Lovegrass Eragrostis parviflora starch grainStarch grains of love grass (DIC)














Eragrostis parviflora (R. Br.) Trin.
Photo: J. Field
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania

African rice starch grain arroz africano granos de almidonStarch grains of cooked African rice (transmitted)













Oryza glaberrima Steud.
Photo: J. Regner
Magnification: x 400
Project: West Africa/Damaged Grains

 African rice starch grain arroz africano granos de almidonStarch grains of cooked African rice (transmitted)












Oryza glaberrima Steud.
Photo: J. Regner
Magnification: x 400
Project: West Africa/Damaged Grains
Phragmites australis starch grain
Common reed starch grains (PL)
Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.
Photo. L. Brambilla Gasques
Project: Anatolia
​
maize starch grain dent variety maiz granos de almidonStarch grains of maize (polarized)













Zea mays (Dent variety)
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica
maize starch grain popcorn variety maiz granos de almidonStarch grains of maize (polarized)













Zea mays (Popcorn variety)
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica
Maize flint variety starch grainsStarch grains of maize (polarized)












Zea mays (Flint variety)
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

SOLANACEAE​

Potato Solanum tuberosum starch grains
Potato starch grains (PL)
Solanum tuberosum
Photo: C. Cagnato
​Magnification: x 600
Project: South America
​

TYPHACEAE​

Typha angustifolia starch grains
Narrowleaf cattail starch grains (PL)
Typha angustifolia L.
Photo. L. Brambilla Gasques
Project: Anatolia
​

ZINGIBERACEAE​

Ginger Zingiber starch
Ginger starch grains (TL)
Ginger Zingiber starch grains
Ginger starch grains (PL)
​​Zingiber officinale
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification: x 600
Project: South East Asia