TAD. CLX. 
MARSILEA POLYCARPA. 
FILICES.—MamnsinzAcEx. Br. RurzoseegwEX. Roth., DeCand., Spreng. 
Hypnorrrnripres. WP—lld. 
Grw. Cuan. AMARSILEA, Schreb, Br. | MARSILEZE Sp, Lim. LEMMA, Juss. 
Involucrum subovatum, clausum, multiloculare, loculis biseriatis, androgynis.  z4nthere ? 
numerose, conferte, sessiles, uniloculares, evalves? polline globoso.  Ovaria serie simplici 
antheris utrinque stipata, sessilia, ovalia, sub membrana duplici materia granulosa repleta. 
Surculus repens. Folia quaternata, elongato-petiolata. — Involucra petiolo insidentia, v. a«illaria, 
sepws pedicellata. 
MansILEA polycarpa ; foliolis lato-cuneatis glabris, petiolis elongatis involucra ovali-globosa brevi- 
pedunculata numerosa secunda proferentibus. 
Haz. In fossis, apud Demerara, legerunt C. S. Parker, Zfrm. et Gul. Hancock, M.D. 
Caudex vel Surculus repens, filiformis, gracilis, inferne radicans: radicibus numerosis descendentibus elongatis 
| valde fibrillosis. n : 
Frondes ex parte superiore caudicis assurgentes, remotse.  Pefiolus (vel si mavis Caudex) spithamzeus. et ultra, 
glaber, erectus, gracilis, hinc semiteres, illinc planus, medio canaliculatus. —Fo/iola quaterna in orbem 
disposita, patentia, lato-cuneata, obtusissima, glabra, integra vel eroso-laciniata. 
Involucra numerosa, omnia petiolo insidentia ex uno latere orta, secunda, subbrevipedunculata, ovali-globosa, 
statu juniore hispido-pilosa, adulta nudiuscula, fusca, edentula, plurilocularia, loculis transversalibus in 
duas series dispositis, androgynis. Anthere (?) et Capsule (?) cum ejus seminibus, fere omnino ut in JM. ves- 
tita (Tab. CLIX.). : 
Fig. 1. Portio petioli cum involucris duobus adultis. f. 2. Involucrum junius. f 3. Involucrum maturum 
transversim sectum. f. 4. Idem verticaliter sectum. f. 5. Capsula? cum ejus Antheris? £f. 6. Anthera? 
cum polline. f. 7. Capsula? rupta seminaque? f. 8. Znvolucrum cum funiculo vasorum, cui Capsule? et 
Antherz affixse :—magn. auct. 
'This most rare and interesting species of /Marsiea is a native of the tropical parts of South 
America, and,'was first made known to us by our valued friend, (whose name we have often had 
occasion to mention during the progress of this work,) C. S. Parker, Esq. His specimens, indeed, 
produced only young capsules; but they and the frond were in an excellent stage for examination 
and description. For the older state of the capsules we are indebted to Dr. William Hancock, who 
found them in the same country and in the same situation as Mr. Parker found his. "The insertion 
of the fruit is very remarkable, and very unlike any other species of the genus with which we are 
acquainted. 
