A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



in the hand. The capsule possesses no peristome, and 

 the spore-sac is continuous over the top of the colu- 

 mella. Peat mosses are large, branched plants growing 

 in extensive colonies in wet or damp situations in 

 northern countries. They are especially abundant on 

 the floating moors which surround certain small |)onds, 

 and by their decay play an important part in the filling 

 in of these ponds. They continue to thrive in these 

 "bogs" until the conditions at length become too dry. 

 Peat mosses, therefore, form a large component of 

 "peat," and in this way the Sphagnales have played a 

 very interesting part in the evolution of the present 

 surface of the earth. Because of the power to retain 

 water, sphagnum is of economic importance to nursery- 

 men and florists, who use this moss extensively in pack- 

 ing stock for shipment, in germinating seeds, and for 

 other purposes. Some species of sphagnum are eaten 

 in Lapland by the reindeer. Mixed with the hair of the 

 reindeer, they are used for stuffing mattresses. Order 

 II. — Andreales. A small group of rock mos.scs. The 

 spore-chamber is continuous over the summit of the 

 columella, and the capsule dehisces by four longitudinal 

 slits. Order III. — Phascales. A small group of minute 

 terrestrial mosses with few leaves, but a persistent 

 protonema: capsule indehiscent, at length decaying. 

 Order IV. — Bryales. A large group containing the 

 majority of the mosses: capsule dehiscing by an oper- 

 culum; peristome present; spore-sac interrupted at 

 the summit b\' the columella. Certain species were 

 formerly used as astringents and diuretics. Leskea 

 sericea has been used to stop the flow of blood from 

 wounds. Species of Hypnum and Fontenalis are used 

 in Norway and Sweden, by the peasants, to fill cracks 

 in the walls of huts. Hypnum triquelrum is sometimes 

 used in place of sphagnum for' packing plants. 



With the exception of sphagnum, the mosses and 

 liverworts do not seem to be in the trade. 



DIVISION III. PTERIDOPHYTA 



Eggs borne in archegonia; sperm-cells in antheridia: 

 alternation of generations clearly evident, the spore- 

 bearing generation dominant: true vascular tissue 

 present; also true roots. 



CLASS I. FILICIN^ (Ferns) 



Svb-dass I. Eusporangialie. Sporangial wall several 

 cells in thickness 



Order 1. Ophioglossales 



1. Ophioglossaceae (from the genus Ophioglnsswn, 

 adder's tongue, in reference to the fruiting spike). 

 Adder's-Tongoe Family. Fig. 1. Plants small or of 

 medium size, often somewhat fleshy: leaves various, 

 entire or often much divided, not circinate in vernation; 

 veins forking or netted; base of leaf cap-hke, enclosing 

 the succeeding leaf: sporangia scattered, borne on the 

 margin of the much modified fertile portion of the 

 leaf, which is usually separated from the sterile by a 

 stalk, globular in form; the walls several cells in thick- 

 ness; annulus wanting; dehiscence by a straight hori- 

 zontal or vertical fissure: prothallium subterranean, 

 tuber-like, chlorophylless, containing mycorrhizal fungi, 

 saprophytic. 



Three genera and about .50 species occur, of general 

 distribution. Several species of Botrychium and one of 

 Ophioglossum are found in the eastern United States. 

 The sheathing base of the leaf, the solitary, thick- 

 walled sporangia without an annulus, and the subter- 

 ranean saprophytic prothallia are important character- 

 istics. 



Two genera are sometimes grown in North America: 

 Botrychium (Moonwort Ferns, Grape Ferns) and 

 Ophioglossum (Adder's Tongue). 



Order 2. Marattiales 



2. Marattiaceae (from the genus Marntlia, named in 

 honor of Maratti, Italian botanist). Marattia Fam- 

 ily. Fig. 1. Stately tropical ferns with thickened, 

 often erect, stems: leaves usually very large, from nearly 

 entire to several times pinnate, circinate, inclosed when 

 young by the prominent stipules: indusium present or 

 absent: sporangia in sori on the under face of the leaf, 

 either separate or united into a capsule-like body (ayn- 

 angium); the walls several cells in thickness; annulus 

 wanting, or greatly reduced; dehiscence by clefts, pores, 

 or, in case of the "synangia," first by valves and then 

 by slits: prothallium a green heart-shaped thallus on 

 the surface of the soil, sometimes branched. 



Four genera and about 23 species are found in 

 tropical regions, but extend into the south temperate 



1. Warattiace.e; 1. Angiopteris, sorus. 2. Marattia, synan- 

 gium. Ophioglossace.e: 3. Ophioglossum, a, whole plant; b, 

 dehiscing sporangia. 4. Botrychium, sporangia. Equisetace.e: 



5. Etiuisetum, a, cross-section stem; 6, fruit stem; c, sterile stem; 

 d, sporophyll and sporangia; e, spore and elater. Lycopodiace.e: 



6. Lycopodium, a, fruit branch; b, sporophyll and sporangium. 

 Selagi-nellace.e; 7. Selanginella, a, fruit spike; 6, spore showing 

 prothallium and archegonia. 



zone. The fern-Uke habit, the prominent stipules, the 

 thick-walled sporangia borne in sori or synangia, the 

 absence of a well-developed annulus, and the green 

 thalloid emersed prothallia, are important characteris- 

 tics. The family is probably very old geologically. 



The thick, starchy stem of Angiopteris and some 

 Marattias are locally used for food. The fleshy stipules 

 of Marattia fraxinea are eaten; the spicy leaves of some 

 species are used to season fpod. The slime from the 

 stipules of M. Douglasii is used medicinally by the 

 Hawaiians. 



Three genera are known to American horticulture 

 and are occasionally grown as ornamental greenhouse 

 plants: Angiopteris, Dana;a, and Marattia, represent- 

 ing less than a half-dozen cultivated species. 



