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 starch grains (TL)

 Mangifera indica ​L.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification: x 600
Project: South Asia
​

ANNONACEAE

Custard apple starch grains (transmitted)

Annona cherimola Mill.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification: x 600
Project: South America
​

ARACEAE

Starch grains of elephant foot yam (transmitted light)

Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson
Photo: Astha
Magnification: x 400

Starch grains of macal, malanga, cocoyam (polarized)

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

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BIXACEAE

Starch grains of achiote (polarized)

 





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

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BRASSICACEAE​

Turnip starch grain (PL)

Brassica rapa var. rapa ​L.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 600
 

Black Radish (TL)

Raphanus sativus var. sativus 
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 600
​

CONVOLVULACEAE

Starch grains of sweet potato (polarized)

Ipomoea batatas ​(L.) Lam.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica/ South America

---

Starch grains of sweet potato (DIC)

Ipomoea batatas ​(L.) Lam.
Photo: J. Field
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania

---

CUCURBITACEAE

Starch grains of acorn squash (polarized)

​









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

---

Starch grains of acorn squash (transmitted)

Cucurbita pepo L.
Photo: Stephanie Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

---

Starch grains of chayote (transmitted)

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

---

CYCADACEAE

Starch grains of cycad (DIC)

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

---

Sago starch grains (transmitted light)

Cycas revoluta Thunb.
Photo: Astha
Magnification: x 400
​

CYPERACEAE​

Saltmarsh bulrush starch grain (PL)

Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla
Photo. L. Brambilla Gasques
Project: Anatolia
​

Brown flatsedge starch grains (PL)

Cyperus fuscus L.
​Photo. L. Brambilla Gasques
Project: Anatolia
​

DIOSCORACEAE

Starch grains of purple yam (DIC)

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

---

Starch grains of yams (polarized light)

​Dioscorea balcanica
Photo: V. Raman
Magnification x 400
Project: Europe

---

Starch grains of air yam (DIC)

​












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

---

Starch grains of Pacific yam (DIC)

​Dioscorea nummularia Roxb.
Photo: J. Field
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania

---

Starch grains of (Chinese) yam (transmitted light, stained)

​Dioscorea polystacha Turcz.
Photo: V. Raman
Magnification x 100
Project: Asia

---

Starch grains of (Guinea) yam (transmitted light, stained)

​











​Dioscorea rotundata Poir.
Photo: V. Raman
Magnification x 400
Project: Africa

---

Starch grains of yam (DIC)

​













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

---

Yam starch and raphides (transmitted)

Dioscorea sp.
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400

---

Yam starch and raphides (polarized)

Dioscorea sp.
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400

---

EUPHORBIACEAE

Starch grains of grilled manioc (transmitted)

Manihot esculenta Crantz.
Photo. J. Regner
Magnification: x 400
Project: West Africa/Damaged Grains

---

Starch grains of grilled manioc (polarized)

Manihot esculenta Crantz.
Photo: J. Regner
Magnification: x 400
Project: West Africa/Damaged Grains

---

Starch grains of manioc (polarized)

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

---

FABACEAE

Starch grains of black bean (DIC)

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

---

Canavalia grains (transmitted)

​Canavalia plagiosperma Piper 
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

---

Canavalia grains (polarized)

​Canavalia plagiosperma Piper   
Photo: S. Simms
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

---

Starch grains of chickpea (transmitted light)

Cicer arietinum L.
​Photo: Astha
Magnification: x 400
​

Lentil starch grains (transmitted light)

Lens culinaris Medik.
Photo: Astha
Magnification: x 100

Starch grains of jicama (polarized)

Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

---

Wild bean grain (transmitted)

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

---

Starch grains of the common bean (Semi-polarized)

​Phaseolus vulgaris L.
Photo: Sheahan Bestel
Magnification: x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

---

Starch grains of kudzu root (Semi-polarized)

Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi
Photo: Sheahan Bestel
Magnification: x 400
Project: China

---

Starch grains of pounded jicama root (polarized)

Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb.
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification x 400
Project: Mesoamerica/Damaged grains

---

Wild bean grain (polarized)

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

---

Starch grains of the common bean (Polarized)

​Phaseolus vulgaris L.
Photo: Sheahan Bestel
Magnification: x 400
Project: Mesoamerica

---

Starch grains of kudzu root (Polarized)

​













Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi
Photo: Sheahan Bestel
Magnification: x 400
Project: China

---

Black gram starch grains (transmitted light)

Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper
Photo: Astha
Magnification: x 400
​

Starch grains of black-eyed peas (transmitted)

Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata
Photo: J. Regner
Magnification: x 400
Project: West Africa

---

Starch grains of black-eyed peas (polarized)

Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata
Photo: J. Regner
Magnification: x 400
Project: West Africa

---

Starch grains of mung beans (Semi-polarized)

​













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

---

FAGACEAE

California Black Oak starch grains (TL)

California Black Oak starch grains (PL)

Quercus kelloggii Newb.
Photo: J. Wisely
Magnification x 400
Project: North America
​

HELICONIACEAE

Heliconia starch grains (transmitted)

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

---

Heliconia starch grains (polarized)

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

---

JUNCACEAE

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

LAURACEAE

Starch grains of avocado (polarized)

Persea americana Mill.
 Photo: C.Cagnato
Magnification x 600
Project: Mesoamerica
​

LILIACEAE

Yellow Star-Tulip starch grains (TL)

Yellow Star-Tulip starch grains (PL)

Calochortus monophyllus (Lindl.) Lem.
 Photo: J. Wisely
Magnification x 400
Project: North America

MALVACEAE

Starch grains of kurrajong (DIC)

---

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

MARANTACEAE

Arrowroot starch grains (transmitted)

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

---

Arrowroot starch grains (polarized)

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

---

MORACEAE

Starch grains of Jackfruit (transmitted light)

Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.
Photo: Astha
​Magnification: x 400
​

Starch grains of ramon seed (polarized)

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

---

MUSACEAE​

Banana starch grain (TL)

Banana starch grain (PL)

Musa acuminata
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification: x 600
Project: South East Asia

​

MYRTACEAE

Starch grains of allspice (transmitted)

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

---

PIPERACEAE

Kava starch grains--stained with iodine--(TL)

Piper methysticum L.
Photo: R. Blackledge/W. Moorehead
Magnification x 400
Project: Oceania

POACEAE

Starch grains of love grass (DIC)

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

---

Barley starch grains (transmitted light)

Hordeum vulgare L.
Photo: A. Gautam
Magnification: x 400
​

Starch grains of cooked African rice (transmitted)

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

---

Starch grains of cooked African rice (transmitted)

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

---

Starch grains of pearl millet (transmitted light)

Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.
Photo: Astha
Magnification: x 100

Common reed starch grains (PL)

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.
Photo. L. Brambilla Gasques
Project: Anatolia
​

Starch grains of sorghum (transmitted light)

Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
Photo: Astha
Magnification: x 400
​

Starch grain of wheat (transmitted light)

Triticum aestivum L.
Photo: Astha
Magnification: x 400
​

Starch grains of maize (polarized)

​












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

---

Starch grains of maize (polarized)

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

---

Starch grains of maize (polarized)

​












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

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SOLANACEAE​

Potato starch grains (PL)

Solanum tuberosum ​L.
Photo: C. Cagnato
​Magnification: x 600
Project: South America
​

TYPHACEAE​

Narrowleaf cattail starch grains (PL)

Typha angustifolia L.
Photo. L. Brambilla Gasques
Project: Anatolia
​

ZINGIBERACEAE​

Starch grains of turmeric (transmitted light)

Curcuma longa L.
Photo: Astha
Magnification: x 400

Ginger starch grains (TL)

Ginger starch grains (PL)

​​Zingiber officinale ​Roscoe
Photo: C. Cagnato
Magnification: x 600
Project: South East Asia