THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM 395 



conspicuous stalks; hut these plants have no true roots, 

 stems, or leaves witli Hhi'ovascular bundles, although often 

 possessing very sinij)Iy constructed parts reseml)ling small 

 roots, stems, and leaves. Humble green plants of this descrip- 

 tion make up the brj'ophyte or mosswort division {Bryo- 

 phijta). 



Finally come such comparatively simple forms as the so- 

 called Iceland moss (Cetraria, page 169), the field mushroom 

 (Agaricus, page 113), and the carrageen (Chondrus, page 112) 

 which, although commonly propagating by spores that are 

 sometimes in cases, have the cases either stalkless or other- 

 wise plainly different from those of mossworts. True roots, 

 stems, leaves, and fibrovascular bundles are never present, 

 although the plant-l)ody may be so lobed as to resemble 

 somewhat that of higher plants. Hence these lowly organized 

 plants form what is known as the thallophyte or lobewort 

 division (Thallophytn). 



Our three examples of the lobewort division each represent 

 one of its three sul^divisions. These may usually be dis- 

 tinguished by their different modes of life. The Iceland moss 

 is an air-plant merely resting upon barren soil without having 

 any means of drawing much nutriment from it, and is con- 

 sequently dependent upon what it can get from the air. This 

 mode of life is made possible by the somewhat spongy nature 

 of the plant-body in which are embedded minute containers 

 of chlorophyll that may become apparent upon wetting. 

 Plants like this so-called "moss" which thrive in barren 

 places such as tlie surface of rocks, bark, dead wood, and 

 sandy soil are of the lichen subdivision (Lichenes). The field 

 mushroom differs from all lichens in being entirely destitute 

 of chlorophyll because it feeds directly upon animal or vege- 

 talile manure in the soil. Lobeworts which can thus dispense 

 with chlorophyll by feeding upon animals or plants or their 

 decaying remains are of the mushroom or fungus subdivision 

 (Fungi). Aquatic lobeworts, whether of fresh or salt water, 

 which like carrageen contain chlorophyll (sometimes more or 

 less obscured by red, brown, or l)lue coloring matters) form 

 the seaweed or alga subdivision (Algre). 



The following synopses show in tabular view the divisions 



