288 HISTORY OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



of this family in the ' Flora Hiberuica/ arc very full. The 



classification he adopts is subjoined. 



t Seeds accompanied by spiral filaments in the capsule. 



A. Common receptacle of the genera pedunculated. 



B. Common female receptacle none. 



tt Seeds unaccompanied by spiral filaments. 



Lindley, in his 'Yegetable Kingdom/ an elaborate and 

 standard work, classes the large families of Mosses and Li- 

 verworts under the Muscal Alliance {Muscales). Among 

 these he includes the Erjnisetaceai^. Subjoined is the ar- 

 rangement adopted by him. 



Hepatic^. 



Ricciacea. — Spore-cases valveless, without operculum or 

 elaters. 



March antiacea. — Spore-cases valveless, or bursting irregu- 

 larly without operculum, but with elaters. 



Junffermanniacea. — Spore-cases opening by a definite num- 

 ber of equal valves, without operculum, but with elaters. 



Eqnisetacea. — Spore-cases peltate, splitting on one side, 

 without operculum, and with -aw elater to every spore. 



* " Equisetinn may be regarded as a link between this (Clascal) Alliance 

 and Chara on the one hand, while its high degree of composition brings it 

 into the ucighboiuhood of i'crus and Club-Mosses." (Vegetable KJugdom, 

 p. 56.) 



