VASCULA.RIA. 423 



The Maraftieee, by the absence of the annulus and the grouping of the 

 sporanges, appear to stand between the Polypodieae and the Ophio- 

 glosseae. 



Distribution. The Ferns at present existing strongly resemble the fossil 

 Ferns, many of which have been preserved, even as to the details of their 

 structure, with wonderful perfection. They were very abundant in the 

 Carboniferous epoch, and traces are also found in the Devonian. The 

 Ferns are universally distributed more abundantly, however, in damp, 

 mild climates, which favour the development of foliage. The Ferns of 

 temperate climates in the northern hemisphere are herbs ; in the islands 

 of the tropics and the south temperate latitudes arborescent forms occur 

 having the habits of Palms. Ophioglossese are sparingly represented in 

 Europe and North America, the West Indies, at the Cape, Tasmania, 

 &c., but are most abundant in the Indian islands. 



Qualities and Uses. Some of them have active properties, astringent, 

 anthelmintic, and emetic qualities, &c., but they are of little importance ; 

 the rhizomes of Pteris &c. ; and the stock of some arborescent kinds, 

 afford a poor nutriment, used by the aborigines of the South-Sea Islands 

 and elsewhere in times of scarcity. It need scarcely be mentioned that 

 this is the favourite Order of Cryptogainia among cultivators of plants. 



LYCOPODIACE^E. CLUB-MOSSES. 



Diagnosis.- Asexual Generation : Herbaceous plants with creep- 

 ing stems branching in a bifurcating(dichotouious) manner, clothed 

 with small, usually closely imbricate leaves traversed by one simple 

 vascular bundle. The branching of the stem and root is entirely, 

 or in a modified form, dichotomous. The nbro-vascular bundles of 

 the stem contain several xylem-bundles, surrounded and separated 

 from each other by phloem. Neither stem nor root possess an 

 apical cell. The sporangia arise in the axils or at the base of the 

 leaves, and are larger than those of the Ferns ; the capsules are 

 reniform (kidney-shaped), and are placed at the end of short, 

 stout stalks : they contain numerous spores similar to each other 

 in size and form, which is tetrahedral. Sexual Generation : The 

 prothallia arising from the spores are independently subsisting and 

 uionuicious. Illustrative Genera: Lyeopodium, L. ; Psilotum, Sw.; 

 Phylloglossum, Kze. ; Tmesipteris, Bernh. 



Structure and Life-history. The Lycopodiaceee have slender stems (in 

 the genus Lyeopodium hard and woody), with an erect or creeping habit. 

 The size and form of the leaves differ according to the species. They are 

 always simple, unbranched, sessile with slender bases, and arranged either 

 spirally or in a verticillate manner, but sometimes in both ways on the 

 same plant. Adventitious roots are usually given off at the forks of the 

 stern. The stages in the reproduction of the Lycopodiacese are not well 

 known. The germination of the spores of Lyeopodium has been seen and 

 described only by Professor de Bary, and the prothallia have been found 



