Descriptions of the Species. 
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154. Marattia fraxinea. Sm. 
Plate CXLIV. Pinna, natural size. 
Crown erect, large, irregular. Frond two-pinnate, coriaceous, 
glabrous, four to six feet long, two to three feet broad, with a very 
stout paleaceous stipe, one to two feet long, swollen at the base, 
and articulated to the crown. Pinnae one to two feet long, one 
foot broad, with a terminal pinnule, and numerous similar opposite 
sessile pinnules, only slightly reduced upward, and with a margined 
or winged rachis. Pinnules four to six inches long, one-half to 
one inch broad, lanceolate, rounded below, sharply toothed along 
the edges, and tapering to a rather long, toothed point. Mid-rib 
distinct, other veins parallel, simple or forked, with clavate apices. 
Sori (Synangia) oblong or linear, parallel, in a straight line near the 
margin. Some of Baur’s specimens have the pinnules pinnatifid, 
or rather bearing beyond their usual breadth occasional lobes 
halfdnch long, quarter-inch broad, with several sori in each. 
Kuhn calls our plant M. salicifolia, Schr., and separates it from 
M. fraxinea, Sm., which he allows as far south as Angola and 
Madagascar. Most specimens have narrow pinnules, but some 
have them one inch broad, and the young plants I have seen in 
growth were so. Kuhn also places here (as sterile fronds) Pteris 
cuspidata, Thunb. (Prod. 171 ; Pappe and Rawson, 51 ; Schl. 
Adum, 46. 
M. fraxinea. Smith, Icon, ined., tab. 48 ; Hk. and Bkr. Syn. Fil. 440. 
M. salicifolia. Schrad. ; Kze. Linn. 10.488; Schl. Adum. 11 ; Pappe 
and Rawson, 47 ; Kuhn, Fil. Afr. 175. 
M. Dregeana. Presl. 
M. Natalensis. Presl. 
M. fraxinea, Sm., var. salicifolia. M‘Ken. 
Tropics and sub-tropics ; growing in ravines in shade. 
West. — Lakes at George (Lady Barkly, Holland). 
East. — Tsitsikamma (Drege, Atherstone), Storm’s River (Roth). 
Kaff. — Between Omsamcaba and Omsamwobo (Drege), Bazija (Baur). 
Natal. — Maritzburg (Krauss), Coast to Maritzburg (Wood), Great Noods- 
berg, Inanda, Zwartkop, Field’s Hill (M'Ken), Umbilo Falls, Umpu- 
mulo (Buchanan). 
Transvaal. — Drakensberg (M‘Lea, 53). 
