The sporophyte of Steereochila (Plagiochilaceae)

The characteristics of the sporophyte of the monotypic genus Steereochila (Plagiochilaceae) are newly described and compared with Plagiochila and Szweykowskia. The sporophyte of Steereochila most closely resembles that of Szweykowskia in its slightly roughened, trispiral elaters, thin-walled capsule epidermis and the similar sporoderm ornamentation, indicating a close phylogenetic relationship. Capsule details and oil bodies of both genera are illustrated for the first time, together with SEM images of spores and elaters.