THE FLORA 197 



Cluster and Sea Pines have been planted with success on 

 bare sand-hills of maritime districts in France. 



P. sylvestris, L. Norway or Riga Pine ; Scots Fir. 

 Oiubhas. Introduced; one seedling was found growing in 

 Druim Buiteachan under natural conditions, but the seedlings 

 are probably eaten as they grow by rabbits. May. This 

 species yields Burgundy pitch. The badge of the Clan 

 M'Gregor (Clan Alpin). 



P. Pinaster, Ait. Cluster Pine. Introduced. 



CRYPTOGAMS OR FLOWBRLESS PLANTS 



Although the members of this group have sexual organs 

 they do not bear flowers with stamens and pistils. Reproduc- 

 tion is brought about by minute cellular bodies called spores. 

 These are produced in abundance, in special structures, on 

 the underside of the fronds of Ferns, in the axils of the leaves 

 of Selaginella, etc. Cryptogams comprise the simplest forms 

 of plant life. They are conveniently divided into two series 

 Vascular and Cellular. In the former (Ferns, etc.) there 

 is a manifest distinction, as in flowering plants, between stem 

 and leaf, and their tissues include vascular as well as cellular 

 elements; in the latter (Moulds, Algae, etc.), no such distinc- 

 tion between stem and leaf exists, their structure being simply 

 cellular. 



FILICES (the Fern family) 



This is by far the most important group of the Vascular 

 Cryptogams, found in abundance in all moist climates. In 

 warm countries some species (Tree-ferns) are arborescent in 

 character ; others are climbers. A few possess active 

 properties. Adiantums (Maiden-hair), Pteris, Asplenium, 

 etc., are largely grown in hothouses for their elegant foliage. 

 The Parsley and Oak (Sgeamh Dharaich, C.) Ferns occur in 

 the Northern Islands, and the Adder's-tongue (Lus-na- 



