172 AMONG THE WILD FLOWERS. 
Cryptogams. Many thousand species are 
microscopic. 
The whole Class contains the following 
OrpeERS : EQuisETACE&, the Horse-tail Family ; 
Finices, Ferns; MArsILEace®, the Pepperworts, 
or Pill-worts; LycopopiacEe#, the Club-moss 
family; Muscr, Mosses; Hepatica#, Liverworts ; 
LIcHENES, the Lichen family; Funct, the Mush- 
room family; ALtc#, Seaweeds; and the Cuara- 
cE&. There is only one genus of the Eaqut- 
SETACEE, L{guzsetum, Horse-tail; the plants 
consist of green stems, more or less branched; 
with no true leaves, jointed and cane-like in 
appearance, the joints being concealed by a 
toothed sheath. They always inhabit damp 
places, several species growing in the water. 
The fructification is produced in a terminal 
spike or cone of a light-brown colour, which 
consists of a number of Aeltate, shield-shaped, 
and many-angled scales arranged in whorls. 
Under these scales are the 7ece, urn-like ves- 
sels full of innumerable greenish sfores, which 
they discharge when ripe, and which will float 
like dust inthe air.- The spores are vem 
curious; they will be seen under the microscope 
to consist each of a globular cell, with four fila- 
