CHAPTER XXXVIII, 



MATONIA, Brown. 

 (Mat-o'-ni-a.) 



AMED after Dr. Maton, Vice- President of the Linnean Society, 

 the genus Matonia^ which, being monotypic (composed of 

 a sohtary species, M. pectinata)^ represents a very small sub- 

 division of the tribe Cyathece, and forms, in Hooker's " Synopsis 

 Filicum," Genus 8. Besides the unique appearance of its 

 foliage, M. pectinata is distinguished from all other Ferns by the singular 

 conformation of the receptacle of its sori (spore masses), for that organ, of 

 a firm, parchment-like nature, is expanded into a six-lobed, umbrella-shaped 

 involucre, which covers six large, sessile (stalkless) capsules. The veins are 

 forked and free, except those around the sori, which are closely reticulated 

 or netted. 



Culture. 



Yery little is known as to either the culture or the propagation of this, 

 one of the rarest and handsomest of known Ferns, which, though at various 

 times imported alive ui this country, never seems to have made headway or 

 even to have become established in any collection. Considering that it comes 

 from Mount Ophir, Malacca, it should be as easily grown as some 

 Cypripediums found wild in the same locality, which succeed admirably under 

 artificial cultivation. Unfortunately, such is not the case ; and although 



