Surface wax, a new taxonomic feature in Plagiochilaceae

A scanning electron microscope study of 81 species of Plagiochilaceae revea led the presence of superficial waxes on the leaves and stems of Plagiochil ion mayebarae and 5 species of Plagiochilia. The waxes are not visible in t he light microscope and were unknown in Plagiochilaceae. Plagiochila fuscol utea and P. longiramea (= P. sect. Fuscoluteae) are characterised by the pr edominant occurrence of membraneous wax platelets; Plagiochila aerea, P. ru dischusteri and P. tabinensis( = P. sect. Bursatae) predominately form vari ous types of wax rodlets. Our findings show for the first time the systemat ic usefulness of leaf surface waxes in the liverworts. P. tabinensis contai ns surface waxes in amounts of ca. 1.4% dry weight composing of steryl este rs, triacylglycerols and free fatty acids.