The Relation of Fungi to Other Plants 



Liverwort (^Marchantia 

 polymorpha) 



The ferns and Christmas greens (Lycopodiums) have no 

 flowers, and therefore no true seeds. They have a distinct stem, 

 which grows from the apex and is strength- 

 ened by woody fibres, which may readily be 

 seen by breaking the stem across. The 

 woody fibres so strengthen the tissues of 

 these plants that they are able to stand erect 

 and make a conspicuous appearance not pos- 

 sible to the 

 small moss- 

 es and liv- 

 e r w r t s , 

 which are 



spore-bearing plants with no 

 woody fibre. 



The plants of all these 



Grass spikelet groups re- 



semble each 

 other in descending degrees, so that they may 

 be classed in groups under groups. Similar 

 specimens may form groups of species. 

 Species may form larger groups, or genera. 

 Genera with common characteristics may 

 form families ; and groups of families, orders; 

 and orders, classes ; while classes unite to 

 form branches, or phylae. 



A botanist relies for the classification of 



his specimens 



mainly upon the 



similarity of those 



parts of the plant 



which produce 



the seeds or 



spores rather than 

 upon those parts — the roots and leaves and 

 stems — which have the work of the plant 

 household to do. He finds that the seed 

 and spore producing parts are more con- 

 stant in their forms and habits than the leaves and stems and 

 roots, which are more exposed, and which are constantly 



7 



Bean seed open to show embryo 



Indian pipe 



