CRYPTOGAllOUS OR FLOWEKLESS PLANTS. 



499 



Series II. Cryftoga:\ious or Feowerless Plants. 



Plants destitute of proper flowers (stamens and pistils), and 

 propagated by spores instead of seeds. 



Class III. Aceogexous Plants.* 



Vegetables with a distinct axis, growing from the apex, with no 

 provision for subsequent increase in diameter (containing woody and 

 vascular tissue), and usually with distinct foliage. 



9G1. Ord. EqilisetilCeiC {Horsetail Family). Leafless plants ; with 

 striated, jointed, simple or ]C82 KS1 



branched stems (containing ducts 

 and some spiral vessels), which 

 are hollow and closed at the 

 joints ; each joint terminating in 

 a toothed sheath, which surrounds 

 the base of the one above jt. In- 

 florescence consisting of peltate 

 scales crowded in a terminal 

 spike, or kind of strobile : each 

 with several thecce attached to its 

 lower surface, longitudinally de- 

 hiscent. Spores numerous, with 

 four elastic club-shaped bodies 

 (of unknown use), wrapped 

 around them when moist, 'of 

 spreading when dry. — Ex. Equi- 

 setmn. The epidermis of Equi- 

 setum hyemale (the well-known 

 Scouring Rush) contains so much 

 silex that it is used for polishing. 



* For illustrations of Classes III. and IV. sec tho plates of Manual of the 

 Botany of the Northern United States. 



FIG 1981. Summit of the stem of Equisetum sylvaticum. 1282. Part of the axis of the 

 fructification, with some of the fruit-bearing org ins, shown magnified in Fig 12S3, a view from 

 underneath. 1281. A separate theca, or spore-case, more magnified. liSo, 12S0. Spores, with, 

 the club-shaped appendages more magnified. 



