1930 CLV. MARSILEACEiB. [Marsilea. 



corner of the base. Sori 15 to 20. — ^Baker, I.e. ; M. Macropus, Hook. Ic. PI. t. 

 909, Gard. Ferns, t. 63. 



Hab.: Inland. 



Var. Muelleri. Involucre more regularly oblong, the dorsal suture more rounded — Baker I.e. 

 Var. eiata. Involucre erect. Peduncle, 2^ to 3in. long. 



All collectors state that the spore cases with spores are collected by the aborigines and after 

 preparation used by them for food. 



Order CLVI. FILICES. 



No true leaves. Plants consisting of a rhizome or rooting or twining stem or 

 simple trunk, emitting either alternate or a terminal tuft of more or less leaflike 

 fronds. These consist ot a stalk or stipes, frequently bearing narrow brown 

 glossy scales especially at the base and on the rhizome, and a simple or variously 

 divided or compound lamina, usually more expanded and leaflike when barren 

 than when fertile, the frond when young rolled inwards or cincinate at the top 

 (except in Ophioglossese) . Spore-cases usually small, collected (rarely united) in 

 clusters or patches called sori (rarely solitary) on the under surface or margins of 

 the fertile fronds, which are either nearly similar to the barren ones or very 

 narrow resembling simple or branched spikes. Sori either naked, or covered 

 when young with a membrane called indusium (or sometimes involucre), variously 

 opening with the growth of the spore-cases, but usualy remaining attached to the 

 frond on one or both sides or rarely in the centre. > 



Ihis beautiful Order is abundant in all moist climates hot or cold, less so in dry and arid 

 countries. The majority of the genera and a considerable number of species are as widely 

 diffused as Grasses and Cyperacess. 



Tbibe I. Ophiog"10SSeffi.— PVojids not circinate, the ban-en frond or portion of frond 

 lea/like, the fertile portion spikelike, simple or brandhed, the stipes of both frequently combined 

 at the base. Spore-cases globular, 2-valved, without any ring, sessile in 2 rows or -in small clutters 

 on the spike or its branches. , 



Barren and fertile fronds undivided or once forked. Spore-capcs sessile 

 slightly connate in 2 rows on the rhachis of the spike ...... 1. OpHioGLossnM 



Barren and fertile fronds branched. Spore-cases sessile in 2 rows on 

 the branches of the panicle .....' 2. Botryohium. 



Barren fronds 3-partite, with' divided segments. Fertile fronds spike- 

 like. Spore-cases in small dense clusters all round the rhachis . . 3. Helminthost.chys. 



Tbibe II. DXarattiese. —Spore-cases without any perfect ring, op'ehifig in 2 valves or in » 

 longitudinal slit, sessile or united,, in 2 rows, in sori forming marginal lobes to the segments or 

 placed on their under surface. 



Climbing ferns. Sori forming small lobes bordering the pinnulesof the 

 divided fronds . . ' 4. LYGomnsi.' 



Erect simple or dichotomous ferns, without expanded laminse. Sori 

 forming small lobes pinnately contiguous and seound at the ends of 

 the branches m- 5. Schiz.ea. 



Fronds large, bipinnate. Sori oblong, placed side by side in a continuous 

 row on the under side of the segments near the margin. 



Spore-cases distinct, sessile in 2 rows 6. Angioptekis. 



Spore-oases in 2 rows, but consolidated into entire boat-shaped sori . 7. Makattia. 



Tbibe III. Osmundeae. — Spore-cases globular or nearly so without any or with an 

 imperfect or transverse' ring , opening in 2 valves or irregularly , few, sometimes solitary, rarely 

 numerous and clustered in sori, on the tmder surface of the segments or pinnules. 



Fronds compound, barren ones with flat segments, fertile with linear 



segments. Spore-cases large, scattered along the longitudinal Jveios . 



and enclosed in the revolute margins . , ........ 8. Ceratopteris. 



Fronds siinply pinnate, with small pinnules. Sori of 2 to 4 spore-cases 



terminating transverse veins proceeding from the naidrib . . .' . . 9, Platyzoma 

 Fronds dichotomous. Pinnules pinnately distichous. Sori of few 



spore-oases, attached to one branch of forked veinlets proceeding from ; 



