NATURAL FAMILIES. 177 



Acotyledons.* 

 CLASS 1. 



Embryo destitute of cotyledons, and a separate albumen. 



These are the plants which are contained in the class Cryp- 

 togamia of the artificial system. 



Fungi, or mushrooms ; these are either parasitical, or spring 

 from the ground naked or enclosed in a volva. The substance 

 of mushrooms is, in some species, like cork or leather ; in oth- 

 ers, soft, fleshy and juicy. They are round or flat ; some have 

 a head called a pileus (signifying hat). They have neither 

 leaves or flowers. Instead of anthers they have a Scattered, 

 external or internal powder. Instead of pistils they have or- 

 gans, which resemble thin plates, wrinkles, pores, tubes, &c. 

 In these organs, exists a substance analogous to seeds, which 

 germinates and reproduces the species. The different species 

 of fungi are known by the common names of toad-stool, puff- 

 ball, &c. 



Mosses, instead of anthers, have collections of tubes which 

 evolve a substance analogous to pollen. The pistillate flowers 

 are collections of many in one group ; their germ, instead of a 

 corolla, is covered wiflh a membrane called a calyptra (veil), 

 whose summit admits the polJen. The fruit is a capsule, open- 

 ing by a lid, having a margin either naked or fringed, with a 

 certain number of teeth either in a single or double row. The 

 seeds of mosses are very minute. The mosses are herbaceous, 

 leafy and mostly branched ; their roots are fibrous ; some are 

 annual, others perennial. 



Ferns exhibit no other fructification than capsules which 

 grow on the back or edges of leaves. The leaves are called 

 fronds; the stems are called stipes. Lichens, sea-weeds, &c. 

 which belong to this class, will be considered under the artifi- 

 cial class, Cryptogamia. 



The second grand division of the vegetable kindom contains 

 the 2d, 3d, and 4th classes of Jussieu's method. 



Monocotyledons. 



CLASS 2. 



Stamens hypogynous (below the germ). Embryo with one 

 cotyledon. The characters of this class are ; stamens inferior, 

 calyx inferior when present ; stamens seldom indefinite ; leave? 

 mostly alternate and sheathing. 



* See Jussieu's classes, page 169. 



Characters of class 1st Fungi Mosses Ferns Second grand division 

 Characters of class 2d. 



