Matoniaceae

Abstract

Terrestrial or epilithic, medium-sized ferns with long-creeping stem densely clothed with pluricellular, uni-senate hairs. Stem containing 2 or 3 concentric steles, the outer solenostelic. Leaves remote; petiole non-articulate, dark and polished, adaxially ± sulcate, with a simple, marginally involute vascular bundle. Lamina trichotomous-pedate or pseudodichotomous, catadromous, glabrous at least when mature, firm in texture; stomata anomocytic. Ultimate divisions long and narrow, costate, with forked, free or slightly reticulate, prominent veins. Son dorsal on the segments, terminal or compital, round; sporangia few, large, simultaneously maturing, arranged in a circle; indusium umbrella-shaped, centrally attached, eventually deciduous. Sporangial stalk short, massive, with a central and a number of peripheral cells; capsule subglobose; annulus oblique, incomplete; stomium none, dehiscence not predefined. Spores trilete, 48–64 per sporangium.