82 



DANjEACE/E. 



[ACROGENS. 



Order XXV. DANjEACEjE.— Dan^aworts. 



66. (1810). 

 c. (1824; ; 



-Danaeaceae, Aqardh, I. c. 117. 

 Mart. ic. pi. crypl. 119. (1834) ; 



AgyrntK, Stearts. Synopi. (1806h--Poropterides Willd I. c 

 (i822).-Marattiaceae, Kaulf. I. c. 31. (1824); Bory, I. 

 Endl.gcn. xxxi. ; Link.filic. sp. p. 31. 



Diagnosis.— Filical Acrogens, with ringkss dorsal spore-cases, combined in masses, 

 and splitting irregidarly by a central cleft. 

 With all the habit of Dorsiferous Ferns, these plants are widely distinguished by 

 the peculiar nature of their spore-cases, which are neither hke those of Ferns nor 

 Adder's-tongues. To the 



latter they approach the 

 nearest, but instead of 

 being connected with, 

 and perhaps fashioned 

 Out of, the margin of a 

 contracted leaf, they ap- 

 pear sunk within, or more 

 rarely seated upon, the 

 back of the leaflets. The 

 entire want of that elas- 

 tic ring, which, in some 

 state or other so strikingly characterises 

 true ferns, gives them a far stronger 

 title to be regarded as a distinct order, 

 than the trifling differences which have 

 in the eyes of some botanists elevated 

 little groups of the latter to that dignity. 



iMffimnl 



mf&msfm 



Fig. LXII. 



In addition to this, their spore-cases are always united more or less by their inner faces, 

 as if in anticipation of the prevailing tendency among the carpels of flowering plants. 

 For this reason they may be regarded as the highest form of the highest Alliance among 

 Acrogens. 



The few known species of the Order are all tropical in both hemispheres. Some 

 form trees. 



The bruised leaves of the fragrant Angiopteris evecta, an arborescent species, are said 

 to be employed in the Sandwich Islands to perfume the cocoa-nut oil. The rhizome of 

 Marattia alata is eaten by the Sandwich Islanders in time of scarcity, according to 

 Mr. Hinds : this would appear to be the Nehai, and not the former plant. 



GENERA. 



Kaulfussia, Mum. 

 Angiopteris, Hoffman. 



Clemen tea, Cav. 

 Danaea, Smith. 



Eupodium, J.Sm. 

 Marattia, Swartz. 



Myriothcca, Comm. 

 Celantliera, Thouin. 



Numbers. Gen. 5. Sp. 15. (J.Smith.) 



Position. — Polypodiacece. — Dan^ace^;. — Ophioglossacese. 



Fig. LXII. — l i.iii.i :i alata. 1 . Collection of spore-cases ; 2. sections of the same and spores, 2 of which 

 are highly magnified. 



ADDITIONAL GENERA. 



Psilodochea, Presl. near Angiopteris. 

 Discostegia, Presl. } 

 Gymnotheca, do. V to Marattia. 

 Stibasia, do ) 



Heterodansea, do. I , _ 

 Dan*opsis, do. | to Dan!ea - 



