| Term: | Plane-dendritic crystal |
| Definition: | An ice crystal exhibiting an elaborately branched (dendritic) structure of hexagonal symmetry, with its much larger dimension lying perpendicular to the principal (c axis) of the crystal. (Or plane dendrite; sometimes called stellar crystal.) Such crystals usually form by vapor deposition at atmospheric temperatures between about -14 and -18C. In sufficient concentration they readily aggregate to snowflakes by interlocking of their branches. |