7. OPHIOGLOSSACEJE. 



by morphologists that the Hydropteridece (including the Salviniacece and Marsiliacem) 

 are usually placed next to the true ferns, while the Maruttiacece and Ophioglossucece 

 are placed subsequently. 



1. ANGIOPTERIS, Hoffm. 



Fronds very large 2-pinnate. Sporangia contiguous and angled 

 by pressure but not united into a chambered synangium, in two parallel 

 rows forming an ellipsoid oblong sorus. Veins simple or forked free. 



LA. evecta, Hojfm. 



A magnificent fern, with a very stout short erect caudex or short 

 thick stem sometimes 2 ft. high and huge 2-pinnate fronds 6-10 ft. 

 long (in our area ; attaining 20 ft. in hotter damper localities). 

 Pinnae 1-3 ft. long with swollen bases, pinnules subcoriaceous, glabrous 

 shining, linear, -3-1" wide, crenulate, veins close parallel. Sori at 

 the ends of the veins -04- -06" long of about 7-12 sporangia somewhat 

 laterally compressed by one another and opening by a vertical chink. 



Deep valleys along streams in Singbhum ! One would expect to find this also 

 in the mals of Orissa, but I do not recollect having seen it there. Fr. March-May. 



Easily recognized by the large stipules at the base of the swollen articulate 

 stipes. 



FAM. 7. OPHIOGLOSSACE^. 



Usually small perennial ferns with short sometimes tuberous, erect 

 rarely creeping rhizomes. Fronds not circinate in vernation, sheath- 

 ing, exstipulate. Barren fronds or their barren segments simple 

 linear to broad and cordate, or sometimes palmate or rej)eatedly 

 dichotomous or pinnately compound. Fertile segments usually 

 similarly divided to the sterile part of the frond but much contracted 

 and modified, usually above the sterile segments (rarely small fertile 

 spiciform leaf-segments arise from the base of the spreading part, 

 but not in our area). Sporangia confined to the side nerves of the 

 fertile segments, sunk in the tissue or free, spherical, opening trans- 

 versely or longitudinally without an annulus. They are formed from 

 a group of superficial cells and have a several-layered wall. Arche- 

 sporium the hypodermal terminal cell of the axile row of the young 

 sporangium. Spores all similar, orbicular-tetrahedral. Prothallus 

 (as far as knoAvn) long-lived, monoecious, subterranean and tuberous. 



A. Sporangia opening transversely : — 



1. Sporangia 2-ranked on the lateral nerves of a slender 

 spiciform fertile leaf-segment and simk in its tissue. 

 Sterile leaf-segment usually simple and entire, reticu- 



lately veined . . . . . . . .1. Ophior/lossum. 



2. Sporangia on the margins of the usually pinnately 

 divided fertile segment, 2-ranked on each segment, 



globose and not sunk in the tissue. Veins not reticulate 2. Botrychium. 



B. Sporangia with vertical dehiscence : 



Sporangia in small clusters on short simple or branched 

 rhachides which arise on all sides of the fertile seg- 

 ment. Sterile part of the frond palmately pinnate 

 with curved dichotomously branched free sub-parallel 

 veins ......... 3. Helminthostachys. 



1213 



