13 



Hijdropterides. Capsules of 2 kinds indehlsoent, coriaceous, very various in form and 

 structure, situated on the roots, or leaves or stems of the frond, 1-or many-celled. 

 Aquatic or marsh plants, of various habit, creeping or floating. 



Equisetaceae. Fructification terminal ; cone-lilce, consisting of peltate scales, bearing on 

 the under surface membranous sacs in which the spores are contained. Spores sur- 

 rounded by 2 elastic elaters crossing each other. Perennials with creeping rhizomes 

 and erect simple or branched jointed stems, each joint embraced by a toothed 

 eheath. 



* * Cellulaees. Cellular small plants, with only fete or no vessels. 



Musci. Fructification of two kinds, viz., more or less coriaceous sessile or stalked urn- 

 like capsules opening, 1st, by a terminal lid, or rarely by 4 lateral slits, or not at 

 all and containing the minute spores, at the same time bearing at the top . a various 

 shap.ed calyptra ; or 2Qd, minute cylindric membranous sacs (antheridia), either 

 axillary or crowded at the tips of the branchlets, containing spermatozoa. Erect or 

 creeping elegant small annual or perennial plants with distinct leaves variously 

 arranged. 



Jungermanniaceae. Fructification of two kinds, as in Musci, but the capsules are split from 

 the top to the base into 4 diverging valves, and the spores are mixed with spiral 

 filaments (elaters). Mosslike, creeping or erect herbs, the stems often dilated in a 1- 

 ribbed frond. Leaves cellular, usually distichous or secund, entire or 2- or more- 

 lobed. 



Marchantiaceae. Fructification of two kinds, viz., 1st capsules, usually symmetrically 

 disposed on the underside of a peduncled peltate receptacle, which rises from the 

 edge of the frond (rarely solitary and sessile) and contains spores mixed with spiral 

 filaments ; 2nd, antheridia, contained in sessile or peduncled peltate or discoid 

 receptacles. Leafless small plants, consisting of green flat variously lobed fronds, 

 emitting rootlets from the undersurface. 



Characeae. Fructification of two kinds, viz., 1st, lateral red globules composed of 8 tri- 

 angular scales enclosing a mass of jointed filaments; 2ad, axillary little nuts, 

 surrounded by 5 spiral filaments, and filled with starch granules. Aquatic plants, 

 with tabular dichotomously branched and articulate stems, the branchlets often 

 whorled, and sometimes incrustated. 



ScBCL.\8s II. Thallophyta. Cellular plants without a distinct stem, forming varioushj 

 shaped organisms, thread-like, flat and expanded thalluses, mushrooms, etc. Fructifica- 

 tion imbedded in the substance of the thallus, very various. 



Liehenes. Texture of thallus consisting of hyaline fungoid and coloured confervoid cells. 

 Fructification of two kinds, viz., Ist, septate spores contained in tubes (asci) usually 

 collected into hard peltate disks or shields on the surface of the thallus or immersed ; 

 2nd, spermagones, or small sacs containing spermatia ; 3rd, pycnides, obscure 

 organs giving origin to spore-like bodies at tlieir tips ; 4th, gonidiu, or globose spore- 

 like bodies, imbedded in the thallus and sometimes breaking through the vertical 

 substance, and forming powdery masses called soredia and cyphella. Crustaceous 

 or foliaceous aerial plants, growing on rocks, earth and bark, &c. 



Funffi. Fructification of minute spores attached to the outer cellular surface, or seated 

 on the top of peculiar cells, or enclosed in asci or variously shaped closed receptacles. 

 Terrestrial, epiphytic or parasitic plants, destitute of chlorophyll, of infinite shape 

 and form, usually soft and succulent, and deriving nourishment mostly from decay- 

 ed or morbose plant-rests. 



Algae. Fructification of four kinds, free or imbedded in the tissue of the frond, either 

 promiscuously or in separate sacs or vesicles, viz., Ist, zoospores, or microscopical 

 bodies moving through the water by the medium of fine cilia ; 2nd, spores of 

 various forms, which are fertilized by antheridia ; 3rd, antheridia, containing 

 spermatozoa : 4th, gonidia, or minute organs corresponding to the buds of higher 

 plants. Cellular aquatic plants, foliaceous, filamentous or simple or congregated 

 cells, variously coloured green, red, black, &c. 



