Abstract
The branching system of Salvinia was reconsidered from an anatomical point of view. The lateral organs are the suboppositely arranged floating leaves ; the submerged organ may not be of foliar origin as is currently recognized but may be comparable to a stem developed in pair with a lateral bud. Sporangia of Salvinia are, according to this interpretation, on the tips of reduced branches. The very young sporocarp-wall has stripes similar to the venation pattern of some leaves and the wall may be referable to a leaf rather than to an indusium. The systematic position of Salvinia might better be compared with the stachyosporous genera, although more detailed observations are necessary before the proper disposition of this genus can be determined.
