GENERA (6) include Danaea, Marattia, Angiopteris, Archangiopteris, Christensenia, and Protomarattia.
THE MARATTIACEAE are characterized by unusual forms of synangia, and are ecologically specialized for growth on the shaded floor of wet, tropical forests.
SORI are compact, and borne on the lower surface of leaves. Sessile, or joined in a massive, indurated synangium, they lack an annulus.
SPORANGIA are several to many.
SPORES are homosporous, and lack chlorophyll. They are either monolete or trilete.
STEMS may be erect, decumbent or prostrate. They are unbranched, and range from moderately stout to massive. Stems are fleshy, with sometimes persistent scales.
PETIOLES are enlarged at the base with fleshy, thin-margined stipules.
LEAVES are pinnate, rarely entire, or (in Christensenia) palmate. Very sparingly to moderately scaly, especially on the axes, they are circinate in bud. The rachis often has a swollen node (pulvinus) at the base of each pair of leaf segments. Leaves range from 50 cm to over 3 m in length.
THE VASCULAR CYLINDER may be dissected dictyostelic, or nearly polystelic.
THE GAMETOPHYTE is epigeal, and photosynthetic. At least somewhat elongate, it is centrally thickened and sometimes branched. Archegonia are borne centrally on the lower surface. Antheridia are borne mostly on the lower surface, but may be found on the upper surface, or even on the margins.
Links to Genus Directory of Images:
- Marattia: (Image)
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