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Radula ratkowskiana is an uncommon epiphytic liverwort of wet forest to
subalpine woodland. R. ratkowskiana often grows tightly
adpressed to the substrate. Distinctively, the cells of the leaf,
lobules and perianths possess dome-shaped papillae, one papillae per
cell. Also the oil bodies are unique - each cell has two different
oil bodies, one smooth and spherical and the other ellipsoidal with
a spherical body inclusion. The perianths are also distinctive, the
two flaps (labia) being inrolled rather than adpressed against each
other. In a recent taxonomic revision of Radula, R.
ratkowskiana was included in R. tasmanica. Although
superficially similar, R. tasmanica is clearly a different
species with smooth cells and a different oil body structure. We
therefore maintain the specific status of R. ratkowskiana. |
University of Tasmania
