MARATTIACEAE [FIRST DRAFT]
合囊蕨科 he nang jue ke
Zhang Xianchun (张宪春)[1];
Terrestrial ferns. Rhizome mycorrhizal, generally unbranched, erect. Fronds clustered, up to 4 m long; stipe never with a pulvinus in the middle region; lamina 2-4-pinnate, ultimate rachises usually winged, pinnules sparsely scaly, sessile to shortly stalked, strap-like to oblong to lanceolate; veins free. Sorus (synangium) medial to submarginal, elongate, bivalved. Spores ellipsoid, monolete, surface granular to spiny.
According to Ching’s system (1978), this group of primitive ferns is divided into rather small families, including Angiopteridaceae, Christenseniaceae, and Danaeaceae.
1. Marattia Sw., Prodr. 8, 128. 1788.
合囊蕨属 he nang jue shu
Plants medium-sized to large, terrestrial. Rhizome massive, erect, to 40 cm high; fronds arising radially, clustered, up to 4 m long; stipes swollen, flanked by 2 large, fleshy stipules at bases, never with a pulvinus in the middle region, with longitudinal interrupted white line of aerophores along both sides of stipes; scales on stipes composed of elongate cells, deeply fimbriate with long auricles; cross sections at bases of stipes revealing several concentric circles of fine vascular bundles surrounding 1-2 small central bundles; laminae 1- to 4-pinnate, ultimate rachises usually winged; pinnules sessile or short-stalked, ovate-lanceolate to oblong, apexes serrate to dentate, acuminate; veins free, simple or forked. Sorus (synangium) medial to submarginal, elongate, bivalved, each valve attached to the receptacle and composed of several compartments, receptacle usually bearing uniseriate multicellular branched hairs. Spores typically ellipsoid, monolete, surface granular to spiny. Chromosome numbers x = 39, 40, 78.
A pantropical genus of some 70 or more described species, in need of monographic revision. Represented in China by a single species found only on the small Orchid Island in the Southeast sea of Taiwan.
1. Marattia pellucida C. Presl, Suppl. Tent. Pterid. 10. 1845.
合囊蕨 he nang jue
Fronds up to 2 m long; stipe shorter than lamina, c. 2 cm thick, bearing irregularly toothed narrowly lanceolate scales, c. 5 mm long; 3-pinnate, pinnules to 30 cm, secondary pinnules 6-10 x 1-1.5 cm, linear-lanceolate, base cuneate, apex acuminate, margin entire at base, then serrate, finally deeply and notably serrate apically; veins free, simple or forked, 1.5-2 mm apart; texture chartaceous; small, brown, thin scales with bullate base along costa. Synangia closer to margin than costa, 1-2.2 mm long.
Under forest on slope. Taiwan (Orchid Island) [Philippines].
[1] Herbarium, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093, People’s Republic of China.