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ROOTSTOCK OF MAKATTIA PBAXINEA, 



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I am also of opinion, although requiring longer observation to 

 prove it satisfactorily, that the rhizomes of the New-Zealand Bo- 

 trycTiinm and OpMoglossum are built up, or added to, on a similar 

 method to that of Marattia. 



Note, — Since writing the above, I have been shown by Dr. 

 Hector an old Maori vocabulary by the Rev. Richard Taylor, 

 called *A Leaf from the Natural History of New Zealand ' (1848), 

 where the author, under tlie name Owipara, gives the following : 

 " edible fern^ tJieroot, which separates into scales, is eateTty^ showing 

 that this peculiar structure had been noticed by Mr. Taylor 

 twenty-eight years ago. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE I. . 



Fig. 1, Front view of a scale, about one fourth natural size. It is composed of 



cellular tissue filled with starch-grains, fibro-vascular bundles, and 

 covered by an adhering bari. The cut section shows numez'ous small 

 orange-coloured spots, which exude on the surface, when newlj cut, 

 a viscid gum-resinous matter. 



2. A scale after three months in the ground, showing the method of bud- 



growth with roots proceeding from the bottom of tlie bud. Rather 

 under one fourth nat. size, 



3, 4 are two illustrations of the frond-growth above ground, showing the 



croziers in two stages of development and the formation of the adnata 

 stipule. Eeduced to about one fourth nat, size. 



5. Hoot-process, shovring rootlets proceeding chiefly from the lower side of 



root ; the whole very flexible. About one fourth nat. size. 



6. 6a. Sections of root enlarged; the chief component mass is cellular 



tissue and starch- grains with lacunae ; there are also star-shaped nuclei 

 of fibro-vascxdar and scalariform bundles, the bundles distinctly wedge- 

 shaped, the root thus showing a stronger affinity in structure to the 

 EquLsetaceae than to Ferns, and presenting an additional reason to the 

 difierence in Sporangia why Marattiacese should be separated from 

 Ferns, 



7. Starch-grains of Marattia fraxiTiea, Sm. 



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