SCHIZAEACEAE 



545 



more likely that the sporangia are originally of surface origin. Nor does 

 it appear unlikely that there should be inconstancy in this respect within 

 the family, when it is remembered that the sporangia may be either 

 marginal or superficial in the Osmundaceae. 



The sporangia are large and sessile, or in Lygodium shortly stalked, 

 and are annulate. The annulus in the living forms is usually uniseriate, 



45 



FIG. 302. 



Sporangia of the Schizaeaceae. A, B = Schha,,i panutla, Sw. A seen laterally. /.' 

 the tip seen obliquely from above. C = Lygodium japonicinn, S\v., sern laterally. D. 

 E = Mohria c a/front i (L) Desv. /) = seen from above. E, laterally. F, G~Anci>ni,i 

 P/iyllitidis, Sw. j^^view from midrib, G from margin of pinnule. //-/-= spores of 

 the Schizaeaceae. H = Schizaea poimtla, Sw. J = Lygodini japonicum, Sw. K= 

 Moliria. caffroruin (L) Desv. L = Anci>nia fulva, Sw. (All but 1\ after I'ratul. 

 K, after Diels from Engler and Prantl, Xat. PJlanzenfam.') 



though occasionally it is more complex : it is contracted towards the apical 

 end of the sporangium, and there is a definite stomium ; but however 

 contracted it may appear, there is in its centre an apical group of thin-walled 

 cells (or it may be only a single one in Lygodium and Sc/iizaea), designated 

 by Prantl the " plate." It is important to note its existence for comparison 

 with sporangia of other Ferns. The rest of the sporangial wall is thin. 



2 M 



