olete 



CHAPTER II 

 LIFE HISTORIES 



VEN the most general survey of the 

 , Vascular Cryptogams would not be com- 

 plete without an attempt to indicate the means 

 of reproduction to be observed in these plants. 

 The subject is one which might well be treated 

 at great length, for there is scarcely any species 

 which does not present some interesting point 

 that calls for comment. Within the limits of 

 the present inquiry it will not be possible to 

 give more than an outline of the reproductive 

 schemes to be observed in a few typical species. 

 These life histories must not be taken as neces- 

 sarily applying to all the related plants. None 

 the less, by a careful study of the species de- 

 scribed we may receive a fair conception of the 

 habits of the class to which it belongs. Inci- 

 dentally it may be mentioned that even a low- 

 power microscope will be an enormous help in 

 studying the life histories of the Vascular Crypto- 

 gams ; but if this is not possible, a pocket -lens 

 will help to a better understanding of many of 

 the points described. 



For the study of the life history of a Fern 

 one cannot do better than take the commonest 

 of our native species, the Male Fern (Nephrodium 

 filix-mas). Seeing that the general aspects of 

 the plant are fully described in a later chapter, 



