2 GO PRESENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE OF CRYPTOGAMOUS PLANTS. 



arc of g-reat importance, and of especial interesttoiis Austrians. In his 

 " Tcnfamcn retridographife,''^ this thorough scholar has studied the retic- 

 ulation of ferns more accurately than any of his predecessors, intro- 

 duced new names, and endeavored to divide the class into more natural 

 genera. Although he sometimes goes too far in this direction, we cannot 

 but appreciate his earnestness, consistency, and extensive information. 

 Fee attempted to follow in Presl's footsteps, but he was less successful, 

 and his works must be used with caution. Our most distinguished 

 l)teridographist, Metteuius, successfully opposed the tendency to split 

 up the existing- material into too many untenable genera and species, in 

 his excellent work on the ferns of the Leipsic botanic garden, and in a 

 series of critical essays, which mostly appeared in the Senkeberg Mu- 

 seum. May this distinguished scholar indefatigably pursue and ulti- 

 mately attain his object ! Moore deserves great credit for his very crit- 

 cal index of all ferns, for the introduction of many tropical specimens, 

 and for publishing (together with Newman) the first work in which na- 

 ture w^is successfully emplo^^ed to print herself. Lowe's " British and 

 Exotic Ferns " is also a valuable illustrated work. Besides all these 

 there are many special publications on single species. The following 

 are among the most important: Milde's Essays on the Equisetaceaj and 

 Domestic Ferns; Presl Van der Bosch and Metteuius on Hymeuophylleffi; 

 Spring's Monograph of the Lycopodiacece ; aud A. Brauu on Isoetea?, 

 and Water-Ferns in General. 



This then is a condensed review of the most important achievements 

 in cryptogamy within the last few decades. Taking them altogether, 

 we maj' say that this branch of botany has made more progress in this 

 period than in all preceding times, and that it has now indeed become 

 a science. The study of the cryptograms is no longer confined 

 to a few isolated scholars as formerly, but it is exciting general 

 interest, and many excellent investigators are making it their ia- 

 vorite subject. Morphology was not only founded, but even completed 

 and established for certain classes. Numerous and highly important 

 anatomical and physiological data have been furnished ; the classifica- 

 tion has in the last period been reformed in accordance with the latest 

 views, and various authors have endeavored to obtain a natural arrange- 

 ment of species, and have succeeded in many cases. 



Although much has been accomplished, much still remains tobe done, 

 and we need the combined efforts of many. May, therefore, the interest 

 in cryptogamous plants ever become more general and lively, and may, 

 especially in Austria, many scholars and amateurs turn their attention 

 to this branch of botany ! The most grateful results will surely reward 

 their exertions. 



