Pteridophyta: Marattiales

Marattiaceae

Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.

Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca

Description of the family

Large terrestrial, perennial ferns. Rhizome erect, large, roots fleshy covered in fleshy persistent outgrows. Stipe with persistent fleshy stipules and a basal swelling (pulvinus). Fronds large, numerous, tufted, 2-pinnate, basiscopically developed; secondary rhachis with a basal pulvinus; veins simple or forked, free. Indumentum composed of simple uniseriate or branched hairs, and short-stalked, slender scales occurring along the axes. Sporangia large, clustered in double rows near vein endings on underside of frond, free or fused into elongate bivalved group of synangia; without an indusium, homosporous.

Comment: The genus Marattia was recently split into three distinct genera: Marattia, Eupodium and Ptisana.

Worldwide: Tropical and warm areas; 6 genera and c. 150 species.

Zimbabwe: 1 genus and 1 taxon.

Links to genera: View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

Genus	Content
Ptisana Murdock	Description, Image

Other sources of information about Marattiaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Marattiaceae
Flora of Malawi: Marattiaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Marattiaceae
Flora of Zambia: Marattiaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Marattiaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Marattiaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Marattiaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Marattiaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Marattiaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Marattiaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Marattiaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Marattiaceae
Wikipedia: Marattiaceae
Plants of the World Online: Marattiaceae
Tropicos: Marattiaceae