V] FERNS 87 



The two genera Matonia and Dipteris afford 

 exceptionally striking examples of survivals from 

 the past. Matonia is represented by two species, 

 Matonia jyectinata (Fig. 11), which grows abundantly 

 on the upper slopes of Padang Batu in dense thickets 

 on the rock faces where, as Mr Tansley states, its 

 associates are a species of Gleichenia, Dipteris, 

 and a little Pterldmm aquilimim (Bracken Fern). 

 3Iafoma pectinata occurs also on Bornean mountains 

 at an altitude of over 3000 ft. and descends to the 

 coast on some of the Malay islands. The other 

 species of the genus, Matonia sarmeutosa, has so 

 far been found in one locality only, Mak, Sarawak, 

 where it was discovered by Mr Charles Hose. 

 Matonia pectinata has a creeping stem covered with 

 a thick felt of brown hairs bearing tall fan-shaped 

 fronds divided into numerous comb-like branches 

 thickly set with narrow linear leaflets on Avhich 

 circular clusters of spore-capsules are sparsely scat- 

 tered. In some respects Matonia is unlike other 

 ferns ; the fronds constitute a striking feature, and 

 the anatomy of the stem is still more distinctive. 

 In the form, development, and arrangement of the 

 sporangia (spore-capsules) — organs which from the 

 constancy of their characters have long been re- 

 cognised as the most useful basis for classification — 

 Matonia exhibits distinctive features. 



In order to emphasise the isolated position of the 



