West.-— A Contribution to the Study of the Marattiaceae . 381 
lets is essentially similar to that described above, except that in this case 
the terminal strands of the curve do not fuse to form a single strap-shaped 
strand (Text-fig. 13, i). Five strands pass to each leaflet, viz. four strands 
(numbered 1, 2, 5, 7 and 3, 4, 6, 8 respectively in Text-fig. 13) from each 
flank of the horseshoe curve and a strand (numbered 9 and 10 respectively) 
from the incurved end of each of the terminal (i. e. adaxial) strands. It will 
be noticed that in this case no compensating strands are produced ; the 
arrangement of the strands of the petiole at a short distance above the 
point of insertion of the pinna-traces is shown in Text-fig. 13, vi. 
Thus it would appear 
that the vascular supply of 
the pinnae is based on the 
same lines in every genus 
of Marattiaceae in which this 
point has been investigated 
(cf. G wynne - Vaughan, 30 , 
p. 262 et seq.). 
Several pulvinoid swell- 
ings or ‘ nodes 5 are normally 
present on the petioles of 
adult plants of Danaea alata 
and Danaea nodosa. These 
structures have been inter- 
preted as representing the 
position of abortive pinnae 
(cf. Brebner, 12 , p. 537), but 
this interpretation has up to 
the present been based on 
poor evidence. In the course 
of the above investigation, 
however, a single case was 
noticed where a rudimentary 
vascular strand left the main 
petiolar curve on one side 
only in the region of one 
of these nodes. This strand soon petered out, ending blindly in the 
parenchymatous ground-tissue of the petiole. 
2. Kaulfussia , Blume (= Christensenia , Maxon). 1 
The genus Kaulfussia , of which only one distinct species (i. e. Kaul- 
fussia aesculifolia , Bl.) is at present known, possesses a relatively slender 
prostrate rhizome with a very well-marked dorsiventral configuration. 
According to Kuhn ( 42 , p. 462), lateral branching of the rhizome some- 
1 Carl Christensen, Index Filicum, 1906. 
D d 2 
Text-fig. 13. i-vi. Danaea alata , Sm. The figures 
illustrate in successive, but not consecutive, transverse 
sections the changes and rearrangements that occur in the 
vascular strands of the rachis below the point of attachment 
of the lowermost pinnae. The position of the protoxylem 
groups is denoted by the black areas, x 6. For descrip- 
tion see text. 
