MARATTIEJE. CXX1. 



gitudinally divided into two opposite valves or lobes, thus con- 

 sisting of two opposite series of (3 11) connate spore-cases ; 

 the valves convex outside, plane within, the spore-cases of each 

 valve bursting on their inner face by a vertical cleft or slit. 

 Receptacles linear or globose, medial. Involucres linear -elliptic 

 oval or orbicular, scariose, fimbriate, persistent. Veins simple 

 or forked, from a central costa ; venules parallel, free, dorsally 

 soriferous near or at the margins. 



Fronds ample, bi-tri-pinnate ; pinnules articulate. Rhizome 

 large, globose, or caudiciform, consisting of the thick squamae- 

 form bases of the fronds. The Marattiece are distinguished from 

 the Angiopteridece, by having the spore-cases consolidated into 

 bi-valved sori, along which they form two opposite lines ; while 

 in the latter, the spore-cases, which are also placed in two oppo- 

 site lines, are distinct and separable. The presence of an invo- 

 lucre distinguishes Marattia from G-ymnotJieca, while both these 

 are known from Eupodium by having sessile instead of pedicel- 

 late sori. 



Ex. : M. attenuata, Ldbill. \ M. sorbifolia, Sw. 



M. alata, Sm. \ M. sylvatica, SI. 



170. GYMNOTHECA, Presl, Supp. Tent. Pterid. 12. 

 SIIBASIA, Presl; MAEAinai sp., Auct. 



Sori dorsal, non-involucrate, sessile, oblong, horny, opaque, 

 longitudinally bi-valved, thus consisting of two opposite series 

 of (6 12) connate spore-cases, the valves convex outside, plane 

 within, the spore-cases of each valve bursting on their inner face 

 by a vertical cleft or slit. Receptacles linear or globose, medial. 

 Involucre none. Veins simple or forked, from a central costa ; 

 venules parallel, free, dorsally soriferous near the margins. 



Fronds ample bi-pinnate, the pinnules articulate. Ehizome 

 large, globose, composed of the thick squamseform bases of the 

 fronds, This group is distinguished from Marattia by the 

 absence of an involucre. 



Ex. : G. cicutsefolia, Presl. I G. laxa, Presl. 



G. Douglasii (Stibasia, Presl.) \ G. Mertensiana, Presl. 

 13 



