ii Edward Neivman 



Primary groups are called classes, secondary groups orders. 

 The seven orders of Filicoid Acrogens are these : — Polypo- 

 diacese ; Osmundacese and Ophioglossacete ; Marsiliacese and 

 Lycopodiacese ; Equisetacese and Characeee. 



The present paper treats only of the first, second and third 

 of these orders, the British species of which are so few in num- 

 ber, that it is extremely difficult so to arrange them as to give 

 any idea of a connected series. 



Order. — POLYPODIACE^, E.Srown. 



Plants composed of fibrous roots, solid simple rhizoma, and 

 flat leafy fronds which rise with a circinate vernation and bear 

 capsules in clusters on their back or edges. The capsules are 

 provided with an elastic jointed ring. The divisions of this 

 order are still obscure, and require further investigation ; the 

 subjoined arrangement is confessedly imperfect, but will pro- 

 bably be found convenient to those whose attention is chiefly 

 confined to the European ferns. 



Family. — Adiante^. 



The ultimate divisions of the frond generally stipitate 

 and leaf-like but without a mid-vein : clusters of capsules 

 small, nearly circular, seated on the reflexed bleached mar- 

 gin : no apparent involucre. 



Genus. — Adiantum, Linneiis. 



No mid-vein : veins of divisions of the frond variously 

 branched, free at extremity : involucre not apparent : clus- 

 ters of capsules nearly orbicular and situate on a bleached 

 reflexed margin. 



Adiantum Capillus-Veneris. 



Adiantum Capillus-Veneris, Linn. Sp. PI. 1559 ; Light/. 

 FL Scot. 679 ; Huds. Fl. Ang. 460 ; Bolt. Fil. Brit 

 24, t. 29 ; With. Arr. 781 ; Sm. E. F. iv. 320, E. B. 

 1564 ; Mack. Fl. Hib. 344 ; Newm. N. A. 9, F. 83 ; 

 Hook, and Am. 576 ; Bab. 416. 



