306 



Homonemea of Fries. II. No vessels, but foliaceous appendages ; stamens 

 and pistils doubtful ; sporules contained in great numbers in capsules that burst 

 regularly, and having a proper integument. Ex. Hepaticae and Mosses. III. 

 Vessels present, and foliaceous appendages ; stamens and pistils certainly existing 

 in some ; sporules contained in polyspermous and dehiscent, or monospermous 

 indehiscent capsules. Ex. Ferns and their allies, with Chara. — To the defini- 

 tions of these, several objections' might be taken, particularly to all that part 

 which relates to the supposed presence of stamens pistils and ; but the divisions 

 themselves appear less exceptionable than any others that have been proposed. 

 They are therefore adopted here, with such an alteration of their definitions as 

 will render them less open to criticism. They are in conformity with the view 

 that has been taken of the subject by Nees v. Esenbeck, in his and Eber- 

 maier's excellent Medical Botany, which only reached me after the whole of 

 the preceding matter had been written. 



Flowerless plants may be considered to exist in three principal forms : 

 first, those in which a distinct vascular system exists; secondly, those in which 

 no vascular system exists, but which have a central axis of developement ; and 

 thirdly, those which have neither a vascular system nor a central axis, but are 

 mere homogeneous masses ramified irregularly. The two former have their re- 

 productive bodies, or sporules, arranged in cases provided for their elaboration 

 and ultimate dispersion ; in the latter the sporules lie in the substance of the 

 plant, and can only be disseminated by its destruction. These may be called 

 Fern-like, Moss like, and Leafless Flowerless plants. 



