Oil bodies of selected species of Chinese Lejeuneaceae (Hepaticae)

The structure of oil bodies, a taxonomically very significant marker in the family Lejeuneaceae, is described and illustrated in six species from China, including three for the first time: Cheilolejeunea gaoi R.L.Zhu et al., Drepanolejeunea spicata (Steph.) Grolle et R.L.Zhu, and Otolejeunea semperiana (Gottsche ex Steph.) Grolle. Cheilolejeunea gaoi has Jungermannia-type oil bodies, which is unusual in this genus and confirms that oil bodies in Cheilolejeunea are heterotypic. Oil bodies of Otolejeunea semperiana are only 3-7 per cell and very different from those of O. schmidii (Tixier) Grolle, the only species of Otolejeunea in which oil bodies were hitherto known. Oil bodies in Drepanolejeunea (subg. Rhaphidolejeunea) spicata are similar to those observed in Drepanolejeunea and confirm the recent notion that Rhaphidolejeunea and Drepanolejeunea are congeneric.