Marattiaceae

Marattiaceae is a family of eusporangiate ferns with fleshy rhizomes and large sporangia that may fuse into synangia. Its living species are mainly tropical.

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Eusporangium: A sporangium that develops from a group of initial cells and forms a wall several cells thick. Marattiaceae belong to the eusporangiate ferns, whose sporangia develop this way.
Angiopteris: A genus of large tropical ferns in the family Marattiaceae. Angiopteris includes some of the largest living Marattiaceae.
Marattiales: An order of eusporangiate ferns that includes the living family Marattiaceae and extinct relatives. Marattiaceae is the only living family in this ancient fern order.
Leptosporangiate fern: A fern whose sporangium develops from a single initial cell and usually has a thin wall. Most familiar ferns are leptosporangiate, unlike Marattiaceae.
Synangium: A structure formed by the fusion of two or more sporangia. Some Marattiaceae bear fused sporangia in distinctive synangia.
Marattia: A genus of ferns in the family Marattiaceae, found chiefly in tropical regions. Marattia is a living genus that illustrates the family’s diversity.
Carboniferous: A geologic period from about 359 to 299 million years ago, marked by extensive coal-forming forests. Marattialean tree ferns were prominent in some Carboniferous forests.
Ophioglossaceae: A family of eusporangiate ferns that includes adder’s-tongues and moonworts. This separate eusporangiate family contrasts with Marattiaceae in form and spore-bearing structures.
Sporangium: A plant structure in which spores are produced and released. The family’s conspicuous sporangia produce the spores needed for reproduction.
Danaea: A genus of tropical American ferns in the family Marattiaceae. Danaea represents the family’s New World lineage.