Marattiaceae
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Giant fern family
Marattiaceae
リュウビンタイ科
An ancient group of ferns that prospered in the Carboniferous, representing one of the most primitive lineages among extant euphyllophytes (megaphyll ferns). Characterized by large pinnately compound leaves and massive rhizomes. Distributed in the tropics and subtropics; in Japan, Angiopteris grows in southern Kyushu and Okinawa.
Key Characteristics
- ●Large pinnately compound leaves (with large stipule-like auricles at the petiole base)
- ●Sporangia fused into synangia
- ●Eusporangiate, lacking an annulus
- ●Rhizome short and massive, storing starch
Phylogenetic Position
Vascular plants > Polypodiophyta > Marattiopsida > Marattiales > Marattiaceae
Divergence Era
Carboniferous (approx. 320 million years ago onward)
Representative Genera
リュウビンタイ属（Angiopteris）マラッチア属（Marattia）
Related Evolution Events
- ・Establishment of large pinnately compound leaves in the Carboniferous
- ・Evolution of synangia (fused sporangial clusters)
Plants in Giant fern family on this site
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