460 CRYPTOGAMOUS PLANTS. [part ii. 



CHAPTER IV. 



CRYPTOGAMOUS PLANTS. 



These plants are generally described as being 

 without spiral vessels, and consisting only of 

 cellular tissue ; but spiral vessels are known to 

 exist in the Ferns, and are said to have been 

 found in the Mosses. Whether this be the case 

 or not, it is evident that the plants included in 

 this division are very different from all that have 

 preceded them, and occupy a lower grade in the 

 scale of vegetable creation. They are divided 

 into two sub-classes : viz. the FoUacece, or those 

 with leaves, and the Aphi/IlcB, or those without 

 leaves ; both of which are without visible flowers, 

 though some have what are called anthers, and 

 the Mosses have something resembling a style 

 and stigma. They may also be said to have no 

 seeds, for the spores, or sporules as they are 

 called, are very different from the seeds of 

 vascular plants, and they have neither coty- 

 ledon nor embryo. 



