Hidden roots of the fern family come to light in this look at Marsileaceae, a small group of semi-aquatic ferns with unusual growth and a distinctive way of making spores.
This volume surveys the eusporangiates and their primitive kin, with a close focus on three genera—Marsilea, Regnellidium, and Pilularia—and how their habit, leaf form, and spore production set them apart from more familiar ferns.
The text describes Pilularia’s creeping rhizome, its bifurcating leaves, and the curious sporocarp that sits at the leaf base. It also traces Marsilea’s leaf evolution from multi-lobed juvenile forms to the familiar four-leaved adult stage, noting how each leaf bears a sporocarp. Anatomy and ontogeny are explored in depth, from stem and leaf traces to the specialized vascular patterns that support sporocarp development.
- How Pilularia and Marsilea leaves arise from a creeping rhizome and show dichotomous branching.
- How the sporocarp functions as a leaf-derived, lateral offshoot and how this relates to leaf structure.
- Detailed anatomy of stems, leaf traces, and vascular systems in these primitive ferns.
- Connections between Marsileaceae and broader fern classification and evolution.
Ideal for readers interested in plant morphology, fern anatomy, and the early branches of fern evolution.