MarsileaceaeMarsileaceae
GENERA (3) include Marsilea, Pilularia, and Regnellidium.
THE MARSILEACEAE are characterized by sporocarps, which bear two to many sori. The sporocarps are firm, and compressed-ovate to globose. They may be slender-pedunculate or subsessile.
SPORANGIA are indehiscent, and short- to long-stalked. They lack an annulus.
SPORES are heterosporous, and lack chlorophyll. They are trilete. Microspores are minute, and borne in groups of 16-64 within microsporangia. Megaspores are larger, and solitary within each megasporangium.
STEMS are short- to long-creeping. Slender and often branched, they are hardly indurate but bear trichomes.
PETIOLES lack stipules.
LEAVES are erect and alternate, in two rows. Circinate in bud, they are filiform, or have a long petiole with 2 or 4 leaflets. They range from 1-40 cm in length.
THE VASCULAR CYLINDER is solenostelic.
GAMETOPHYTES
are minute, and non-photosynthetic. The female gametophyte is
largely contained within the megasporangium; the microgametophyte
is found within the microspore.
Links to Genus Directory of Images:
- Marsilea
- Pilularia globifera (image)
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