949 



7. Osmundacece, Osmunda only. 



8. OphioglossacecB, including Botrychium and Ophioglossuni. 



9. LycopodiacecE, including Lycopodium and Isoctes. 

 10. MarsiliacecBy Pilularia only. 



Woodsia alpiiia 



It were almost an insult to the understandings of our fellow-labour- 

 ers in the field of botanical science, to consider it necessary to point 

 out to them that these divisions, by whatever name they may be call- 

 ed, are of very unequal value. Thus, while the line between the Po- 

 lypodiacesB and Aspidiaceae is almost incapable of definition, that 

 between Equisetaceae and all the rest is so manifest, as to have led 

 some modern botanists to disconnect them fi-om the cryptogamous 

 and place them among phaenogamous plants. These discrepancies 

 might furnish the hypercritic with a fruitful theme, and the introduc- 

 tory synopsis might even be employed as aff"ording the weaj^ons of 

 attack. 



