4i2 MARSH BE TO NY 



Marsh betony, Stachys palustris L. ; - grass (Am.), Spartina ; - mallow, 

 Althaea officinalis L. ; -marigold, Call ha palustris L. ; -rosemary, 

 Ledum, (Am.) Statice. 



Marshallia Schreb. Compositae (5). 5 S. U.S. 



Marsilea L. Marsileaceae. 60 trop. and temp. Khiz. bearing 1. at 

 the nodes, and roots on the lower side. L. petiolate with four 

 lobes, resembling those of'4-leaved clover.' They 'sleep' at night 

 like Oxalis. In some they are floating, on delicate petioles; others 

 grow in shallow water, the 1. standing erect. Some, e.g. M. vt'stita 

 Hook, et Grev., vegetate during the wet season, and pass the dry in 

 the form of sporocarps. 



The sporocarp is a bean-like structure attached to the petiole of 

 the 1. by a stalk. It contains a number of sori, each forming a 

 chamber reaching from the ventral to the dorsal edge of the sporocarp. 

 In each sorus on the outer side is a placenta in the form of a ridge 

 bearing micro-sporangia on its sides and mega-sporangia on the top. 

 The latter contain one spore each. The sporocarp is very hard and may 

 remain in water a long time without showing any effect. Ultimately 

 however, or at once if the hard shell be injured, a swelling of the 

 mucilaginous interior tissue bursts it. "As more water is absorbed, 

 this gelatinous inner tissue continues to expand, and forms a long 

 worm-shaped body to which are attached a number of sori, each sur- 

 rounded by a sac-shaped indusium in which the sporangia are closely 

 packed" (Campbell). The spores are finally set free by the dissolu- 

 tion both of indusium and sporangium wall. The prothalli are similar 

 to those of Salviniaceae. 



The sporocarps of some are eaten by the natives of Austr. (nardoo). 



Marsileaceae. Filicales Leptosporangiatae. A fam. of i gen., 65 sp. 

 trop. and temp. Mature pi. aquatic or amphibious with thin creeping 

 stem, growing by an apical cell, and bearing 1. at distinct nodes. 

 L. circinate in vernation like those of ordinary ferns, but varying 

 much in type (see gen.). Roots are formed from the lower side of 

 the stem. 



Sporangia in sporocarps, which are complex structures not homo- 

 logous with those of Salviniaceae. Each is the equivalent of a leaf- 

 segment and encloses several sori, the latter composed both of micro- 

 and mega-sporangia. Each spore is furnished with an epispore of 

 hardened frothy mucilage. The spores pass the winter (or dry season) 

 inside the sporangia. The subsequent stages in the life history resemble 

 those of Salviniaceae. See gen. for details. 

 Classification : 



Leaf with 4-partite blade ; sporocarp bean-shaped : Marsilea. 

 ,, simple; sporocarp spherical : Pilularia. 



Marsippospermum Desv. (Rostkorna BH.). Juncaceae. i S. Am., N.Z. 



Marssonia Karst. (Napeanthus BH.). Gesneriaceae (i). i Trinidad, 

 Venezuela. 



Marsypianthus Mart, ex Benth. Labiatae (vn). 3 warm Am. 



Marsypopetalum Scheff. Anonaceae (2). i Java. 



Martagon lily, Liliitm Martagon L. 



Martha Fr. Muell. (Posoqueria p-p-). Rubiaceae (i. 8). i Brazil. 



Marthella Urb. (Gymnosifhon p.p.). Burraanniaceae. r Trinidad. 



