MARATTIA. 



445 



marginal ; they are deeply cleft and distinctly pedicellate (stalked). — Hoohei\ 

 Second Century of Ferns^ t. 95. Lowe^ New and Rare Ferns^ t. 17. 

 Nicholson^ Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 327. 



M. (Gymnotheca) laxa — Gym-noth-e'-ca ; lax'-a (loose), Kunze. 



A Highly ornamental though somewhat coarse-growing Fern, of robust 

 growth, native of Mexico, and distinct from most other Marattias through its 

 airy, light appearance. Although its gigantic fronds, produced from a thick, 

 short, and fleshy trunk or rootstock, are always of large dimensions, and 

 'horne on stout, light green, fleshy stalks 1ft. to 2ft. long, thickly covered 

 at the base with grey, chaff'y scales, yet the leaflets are set very loosely 

 and have a peculiar deflexed character, which gives the whole plant a graceful 

 appearance difi'erent from that of other much more massive species. The 

 lower leaflets, IJft. to 2ft. long and often 1ft. broad, are furnished with 

 oblong- spear -shaped leafits 4in. to Gin. long, lin. broad, heart-shaped at the 

 base, deeply toothed at the edges, of a somewhat leathery texture, and of 

 a rich dark green colour ; their rachises (stalks of the leafy portion) are slightly 

 winged towards the summit. The synangia, about one line long and disposed 

 quite close to the edge of the leafits, have their sides always erect and their 

 attachment linear (very narrow). — Hooker, Species Filicum, p. 441. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 327. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 viii., t. 77. 



M. purpurascens — pur-pur-as'-cens (purplish). This plant is identical 

 with M. ascensionis of J. Smith, a variety of M. fraxinea. 



M. salicifolia — sal-ic-if-oF-i-a (Willow-leaved). A variety of M. fraxinea. 



M. Yerschaffeltiana — Ver-schaf-fel-ti-a'-na (Verschaffelt's). Synonymous 

 with M. cicutcBfolia. 



