A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



Family Iyentilnilari;u'e;p, pagi" 73. 

 Glol)iilariai'<';i', ~',i. 

 Acaiit liiiciw. 73. 

 Myoporacex, 74. 

 Phrvniaoea", 74. 

 OHor.')l. I'lantaRiiiales. 



K:uuil.\ I'lanlaginacea. 

 Order .i'2. Rubiales. 

 Family Kubiacc«, 74. 



Caprifoliappii", 74. 

 V'aloriaiiacoa'. 75. 

 Dipsacaoe*, 75. 

 Order .■)3. Campanulales. 

 Family Cucurbitacca>, 75. 

 Canipanulacoa", 76. 

 CompositiP, 76. 



DIVISION I. THALLOPHYTA 



Plants characterized rather indefinitely by the absence 

 of an archegoniain around the egg, and the absence of 

 the type of antheridiuni found among the higher plants. 

 The plant body is rarely differentiated into organs 

 simulating stem and leaves, and no true vascular 

 tissue is found in the group. Formerly the Thallophyta 

 were divided Into the Alga", Fungi, and Lichens; but 

 this, though a good classification on physiological 

 grounds, does not indicate actual relationship so well 

 as the modern division into fifteen classes founded on 

 structure, as follows: 



CLASS I. BACTERIA 



Unicellular or filamentous organisms without green 

 color, possibly "degenerated" from the Cyanophyceis, 

 with no true nucleus, the cell-wall often gelatinous: repro- 

 duction wholly asexual by division into two equal por- 

 tions and subsequent separation (fission) ; or by asexual 

 spores, one of which may be produced in each cell. Bac- 

 teria are probably the smallest known organisms, some 

 being not over .6(^003 inch in diameter. In form, the 

 cells are either oblong, spherical or spiral, and may be 

 separate or united in groups or chains, and may be either 

 motile by means of cilia or non-motile. Bacteria, while 

 showing little structural diversity, have become highly 

 specialized physiologically, and it is on this basis that 

 the species are usually distinguished. Many cause disease 

 among animals and human beings, while others cause 

 disease among plants. Nitrifying bacteria in the soil are 

 of vital importance to higher plants. Bacteria and fungi 

 are the causes of decay. 



CLASS II. CYANOPHYCE^ (Blue-green Algs) 



Unicellular or filamentous alga of blue-green color; 

 true nuclei wanting: cell-wall often gelatinous: 

 reproduction wholly asexual by fission or by asexual 

 spores borne as in the bacteria. The blue-green algte 

 inhabit water, damp soil, damp rocks, or damp tree 

 trunks, where they often form filamentous or gelatinous, 

 dark green patches. The aquatic forms prefer water 

 containing much organic matter and hence are abun- 

 dant in sewers. Certain species inhabit flower-pots in 

 greenhouses, and brick walls. 



CLASS III. FLAGELLATA (Flagellates) 



Simple unicellular aquatic organisms intermediate 

 between the Thallophyta and Protozoa. During a por- 

 tion of their life they fxjascss no cell-wall, and often show 

 amoelxjid movements. The cells contain a nucleus, 

 pulsating vacuole, and chlorophyll; and one or more 

 cilia are present. Some reduced forms are colorless 

 and .saprophytic. Reproduction is wholly asexual by 

 fi8.»ion and thick-walled resting spores. Found in 

 waters of ponds and streams. 



CLASS IV. MYXOMYCETES (Slime Molds) 



A very distinct and independent group, formerly 

 often classified in the animal kindgom. The plants 

 consist of naked masses of protoplasm called plasmodia, 

 which contain many nuclei but no chlorophyll. These are 

 found in forests and damp, shatly places. When ready 

 to fruit, the phismodia move toward the light and away 

 from the water, hence ascend grass stems, stumps and 

 logs, where they transform into elaborately constructed 

 sporangia. The asexual spores, each enclosed by a cell- 

 wall, are distributed by the wind, germinate, produce 

 a ciliated bit of naked protoplasm which swims in the 

 soil moisture, multiply by division and at length fuse 

 with neighboring protoplasts to form the Plasmodium, 

 which latter may be .sometimes a foot in breadth. Dur- 

 ing unfavorable weather, the plasmodia are often trans- 

 formed into sclerotia. Plnsmodinphora brasnicsp, which 

 is the cause of the club-root of cabbage, is the only 

 Myxomycete of great economic importance. 



CLASS V. PERIDINE.E 



A small group mostly inhabiting the sea, more rarely 

 fresh water. They are unicellular, free-swimming 

 organisms with nucleus, vacuole, chromatophores, and 

 cilia. The cell is usually surrounded by a cellulose, 

 sculptured, or pitted and transversely furrowed, wall. 

 Reproduction is by cell-division and swarm-spores 

 Sexual reproduction has recently been discovered. 

 The Peridineae often form an important part of the 

 plankton in the sea. 



CLASS VI. CONJUGATE 



Green filamentous or unicellular fresh- water algae: 

 cell-wall and nuclei present : reproduction by division 

 of the plant body, and by sexual spores, which latter 

 result from the union of two body cells by means of a 

 connecting tube (conjugation). Plants of the sub-group 

 DesmidiaceEe are not filamentous, but often star- 

 shaped, lunate, or geminate in outUne. The Zygne- 

 maccK are filamentous with star-shaped (Zygnema), 

 spiral (Spirogyra), or plate-like chloroplastids. The 

 Conjugatae are of little economic importance. 



CLASS VII. DIATOME^ (Diatoms) 



Unicellular algse of very peculiar and interesting 

 habit. The wall consists of two silicious valves, one of 

 which fits over the other like the lid of a box. These 

 valves are frequently very beautifully sculptured. 

 Through division, new cells and new walls are formed, 

 which are always smaller than before, until finally as a 

 limit a sexual spore is produced which reestablishes the 

 size of the cell. Diatoms inhabit stagnant water, wet 

 rocks, and the sea. They are either free-floating or 

 pedicelled and attached. The sihcious walls will resist 

 burning. Diatoms contain little, if any, chlorophyll, 

 and are mostly saprophytic. A large part of the oceanic 

 plankton is composed of Diatoms. 



CLASS VIII. HETEROCONT^, or CONFERVA 



A small group of green alga", inhabiting wet soil or 

 water, but of little, if any, economic importance. The 

 zoospores have unequal cilia; and the chloroplastids 

 are yellowish green and oil-producing. Asexual resting 

 spores also occur. Conjugating zoospore-like gametes 

 are found in some genera. Botrydium and Conferva 

 are examples of this class. 



CLASS IX. CHLOROPHYCE^ 



A large and important group of fresh-water, or rarely 

 marine, alga-. Plant body unicellular, filamentous, or 

 even thalloid: the cells contain chloroplastids and pro- 

 duce starch: reproduction sometimes vegetative, but 

 also by asexual zoospores; sexual reproduction con- 



