38 THE PRESENT. 



Or, adopting a simpler and more explanatory arrangement, 

 the several grand divisions of the vegetable kingdom may 

 be exhibited as under : 



I. CELLULAR Without regular vessels, but composed of fibres which 

 sometimes cross and interlace each other. The Confervce (green 

 scum-like aquatic growths), the Lichens (which incrust stones and 

 decaying trees), the Fungi (or mushroom tribe), and the A lyce (or 

 sea-weeds), belong to this division. In some of these families there 

 are no apparent seed-organs. From their mode of growth viz., 

 sprout-like increase of the same organ they are known as THALLO- 

 GENS or AMPHIGENS. 



II. VASCULAR With vessels which form organs of nutrition and re- 

 production. According to the arrangement of these organs, vascular 

 plants have heen grouped into two great divisions CRYPTOGAMIC 

 (no visible seed-organs), and PHANEROGAMIC (apparent flowers or 

 seed-organs). These have been further subdivided into the follow- 



1. CRYPTOGAMS Without perfect flowers, and with no visible 



seed-organs. To this class belong the mosses, eqidsetums, 

 ferns, and lycopodiums. It embraces many fossil forms 

 allied to these families. From their mode of growth viz., 

 increase at the top or growing point only they are known as 



ACROGENS. 



2. PHANEROGAMIC MONOCOTYLEDONS Flowering plants with one 



cotyledon or seed-lobe. This class comprises the water-lilies, 

 lilies, aloes, rushes, grasses, canes, and palms. In allusion to 

 their growth, by increase within, they are termed ENDOGENS. 



3. PHANEROGAMIC GYMNOSPERMS This class, as the name in- 



dicates, is furnished with flowers, but has naked seeds. It 

 embraces the cycadece or pine-apple tribe, and the coniferce or 

 firs. In allusion to their naked seeds, these plants are also 

 known as GYMNOGENS. 



4. PHANEROGAMIC DICOTYLEDONS Flowering plants with two 



cotyledons or seed-lobes. This class embraces all forest trees 

 and shrubs the composites, leguminosce, iwnhelliferce, cruciferce, 

 and other similar orders. None of the other families of plants 

 have the true woody structure, except the coniferce or firs, 

 which seem to hold an intermediate place between monocoty- 

 ledons and dicotyledons ; but the wood of these is readily 

 distinguished from true dicotyledonous wood. From their 

 mode of growth increase by external rings or layers the 

 dicotyledons are termed EXOGEN.S. 



