needle-like crystals that occur in bundles in the vacuoles of some plant cells.

Raphides are needle-shaped crystals of calcium carbonate or calcium oxalate found in specialized plant cells called idioblasts. It is believed that the raphides are a defense mechanism against plant predators, as they are likely to tear the soft tissues of the throat or esophagus of a plant predator chewing on the plant's leaves.

See Rhaphides.