276 



BOTANY 



adventitious buds are developed, especially in the forks of the leaf. The 

 tissues are very much like those of the typical Leptosporangiates. 



The sporangia are sessile, with a broad, oblique annulus (Fig. 242), and open 

 longitudinally. They are grouped in small, naked sori, upon the lower surface 

 of unmodified leaves. 



Family 3. Matoniaceae 



Sometimes included with the Gleicheniacese is the peculiar genus 

 Matonia, represented by two species from the Malayan region. They 

 differ from the Gleicheniaceae in the sporangia, which are more like 



FIG. 243. Lygodium Japonicum. A, pinnule (x 3); 5, the sporangial segments. 

 B, section of sporangial segment, showing sporangia, sp (X 14). C, sporangium 

 (X 65) ; r, annulus. D, cross-section of petiole (X 65). 



those of the Polypodiaceae or Cyatheaceae. The sorus is covered by 

 a peculiar shield-shaped indusiuin. The Matoniacese are the last 

 remnants of a family which was abundant in the earlier Mesozoic 

 formations. 



Family 4. Schizaeaceae 



The Schizaeaceae, which include about one hundred species, like the 

 Gleicheniaceae are mainly tropical in their distribution, but there are 

 several exceptions. In the Atlantic States, two species, Lygodium 

 palmatum and Schizcea pusilla, occur, and in Texas there are several 

 species of Aneimia. 



