POLAE DRASTYLA, in natural history, is the name of a genus of crystals, derived from the Greek πολύς, many, ἵστα, fides, the primitive particle α, not, and κόλος, a column; and means a crystal with many planes, and without a column.
The bodies of this genus are crystals of two octangular pyramids, with the bases joined, the whole body consisting of 16 planes. Of this genus there are only two species known: 1. A brown kind with short pyramids, found in great plenty in Virginia on the sides of hills; and, 2. A colourless one, with longer pyramids. This has yet been found only in one place, which is the great mine at Gossalaer, in Saxony, where it usually lies at great depths.