202 FERNS. CHAP. I. 



Radical. In some genera the fructification is radical, that is 

 placed upon or rather near the root, as in Pilulana 

 (PL VII. Fig. 1.) and Isoetes, which are generally 

 regarded as Ferns, though the parts of the flower 

 are so obvious as to render it doubtful whether they 

 should not be transferred to the class of conspicuous 

 flowers, rather than to that of the cryptogamic.* 

 In the former the flowers issue from the bosom of the 

 leaves, which are radical, and consist of a recepta- 

 cle or calyx, anthers and pistils, ascertainable by the 

 aid of the microscope, -f~ the seeds being small and 

 globular bodies lodged in the receptacle, and covered 

 with a fine membrane. In the latter the flowers 

 are immersed in the base of the leaf or frond, and 

 consist also of a receptacle or calyx, anthers and 

 pistils, ascertainable by a good magnifier, the 

 seeds being small and globular bodies lodged in a 

 capsule. ^ 



Axillary. In the genus Lycopodium (PL VII. Fig. 2.) the 

 fructifications are axillary, that is issuing from the 

 axils of the leaves, though exhibiting, as I believe 

 even according to Hedwig, no parts analogous to 

 stamens and pistils, but consisting ultimately of 

 kidney-shaped capsules, containing many minute 

 seeds. 



Terminal. In the genus Equisetiim the fructifications are 



terminal, consisting of a succession of whirls of 



target-shaped substances attached horizontally and 



condensed into a club-like spike terminating the 



* Smith's Introd. p. 488. t Hedwig, J Withering. 



