mounted by the sc s?ile stigma, compressed, 

 parallel to the partition, with flat reticu- 

 late one-nerved valves. [J.T.S.] 



MATICO. A drag obtained from Artan- 



the elongata and adunca ; also from Euva- 



torium glutinosum, and Walteria glomerata ; 



and. according to Martius, from a species 



' of Phlomis. 



MATOKIA pectinata is the only spe- 

 cies of a genus of Polypodiacece, distinct 

 in aspect and character from all other 

 known ferns. From a creeping rhizome 

 rises a tall slender erect ebony stalk, on 

 the top of which is a conjugate fan-shaped 

 frond, each half a counterpart of the other, 

 and consisting of several long rigid linear 

 pinnatifid branches. The fronds have 

 ! something the aspect of the Mertensia 

 group of Gleichenia, but the suboblique 

 ring of the spore-case indicates relation- 

 . ship with the Cyatheinece, in the neighbour- 

 ! hood of which it is now classed as a distinct 

 : tribe, the Matoninece. The sori are globose 



■ on compital receptacles, and covered by 

 1 umbonato-hemispherical indusia with a 



central stalk, and incurved margins. The 

 1 veins are free, except where they anasto- 

 ; mose to form the receptacles. [T. M.] 



MATRICAIRE, or M. COMMUNE. fFr.) 

 Pyrethrum Parthenium. — MANDIANE. 

 Anthemis parthenioides. 



MATRICARIA. A genus of herbaceous 

 plants belonging to the tribe Corymbiferm 

 | of compound flowers, of which the charac- 

 ters are : fruit angular, crowned with a 

 ! large disk"; pappus, when present, a mem- 

 i branaceous border ; receptacle naked ; flo- 

 1 rets of two colours. The genus is repre- 

 ; sented by the Corn Mayweed, M. inodora, 

 | and the "Wild Chamomile, M. Chamomilla, 



■ common weeds with daisy-like flowers, and 

 ; deeply cut capillary leaves, the latter with 



a slightly bitter taste, and a smell approach- 

 ing that of the true Chamomile. French, 

 Matricaire ; Germ. Mutterkraut. [C. A. J.] 



MATRIMONY-TINE. Lycium barbarum. 



MATTHIOLA. A genus of cruciferous 

 plants, of which the characteristic features 

 are: silique nearly cylindrical ; stigmas eon- 

 nivent, thickened or horned on the back ; 

 seeds thin and flat, one-rowed, numerous. 

 Two species are indigenous to Britain : M. 

 incana, which grows on cliffs in the Isle 

 of "Wight, and is the origin of all the 

 garden varieties of Brompton Stock ; and 

 if. sinuata, the Great Sea Stock, an herba- 

 ceous plant with rugged pods, rare on the 

 shores of Cornwall and "Wales. M. triMis, 

 a humble plant with narrow hoary leaves 

 and dingy brown flowers, a native of the 

 south of Europe, i3 best known as the 

 Night-scented Stock. M. annua is the 

 original of all the varieties of Ten-week 

 Stock, and 31. grmca of the smooth-leaved 

 annual Stocks. French, Giroflee. [C. A. J.] 



M ATTIA. A genus of Boraginacew, found 

 in South-eastern Europe and Asia Minor, 

 consisting of white pubescent herbs, with 



linear-oblong leaves, and umbellate-corym- 

 bose blue or yellow flowers. [J. T. S.] 



MATUTINAL. Happening early in the 

 morning. 



MATWEED. Ammophila armaria, also 

 called SeaMatweed. —.HOODED. Lygeum 

 Spartum. — , SMALL. Nardus stricta. 



MAUDLIN, SWEET. Achillea Ageratum. 



MAUDLINWORT. Chrysanthemum Leu- 

 eanthemum. 



MAULE. Malva sylvestris. 



MAURANDIA. A genus of Scrophnla- 

 riacece, nearly allied to Antirrhinum, and 

 like that genus comprising annuals and 

 perennials, either erect, or more frequently 

 climbing and supporting themselves by 

 their twisted peduncles and petioles. They 

 differ from Antirrhinum in the tube of the 

 corolla not being swollen into a pouch at the 

 base, in the less prominent palate at the 

 mouth of the tube, and in the capsule, of 

 which each cell opens in several valve-like 

 teeth. Three handsome climbing species, 

 M. antirrhiniflora, M. semper flm ens, and M. 

 Barclayana, all natives of Mexico, with 

 cordate or hastate leaves and showy 

 flowers, are frequently cultivated in our 

 gardens. The two remaining erect species 

 are Californian. 

 MAURITIA. A genus of palms peculiar 

 j to tropical South America. They grow to 

 an immense size, some species attaining 

 the height of a hundred or a hundred and 

 I fifty feet, and bearing a crown of enormous 

 I fan-shaped leaves, from amongst which 

 the pendulous flower-spikes are produced. 

 | These spikes, which are often very larse 

 I and much branched, bear the flowers in 

 i numerous catkins, which, as well as the 

 j branches, have their bases sheathed in in- 

 complete tubular spathes. The different 

 sexes are on distinct trees, but they are 

 intermingled with perfect flowers. The 

 fruits are covered with hard shiny scales, 

 which give them a tesselated appearance. 

 M. flexuosa, the Moriche or Ita Palm, is 

 very abundant on the banks of the Ama- 

 zon, Rio Negro, and Orinoco rivers. In 

 the delta of the latter it occupies swampy 

 tracts of ground, which are at times com- 

 pletely inundated, and present the appear- 

 i ance of forests rising out of the water. 

 i These swamps are likewise frequented by 

 an independent tribe of Indians, called 

 j 'Guaranes,' who subsist almost entirely 

 : upon the produce of the Moriche Palm, and 

 during the period of the inundations sus- 

 ; pend their dwellings from the tops of its 

 ! tall stems. Various parts are applied to 

 I useful purposes. The outer skin of the 

 ; young leaves is made into string and cord 

 for the manufacture of hammocks. The 

 fermented sap yields palm-wine, and an- 

 other beverage is prepared from the 

 | young fruits, while the soft inner part of 

 I the stem yields a farinaceous substance 

 j like sago. [A. S.] 



I MAURITIUS- WEED. Eoccellafuciformis. 



