181 



NARROW -LEAVED OR AC HE. Atriplex angustifolia. 



Plate 14, fig. 12. 



This, which is quite as common as the last, does not differ 

 from it in any respect but in having narrower leaves. When 

 either of these grow on the sea shore their leaves become 

 thicker and downy. 



O. S. Shrubby Orache, or Sea Purslane, Frosted Sea Orache, Spear - 

 leaved Orache, Grass-leaved Sea Orache, and Stalked Sea Orache. 



CLASS 24. CRYPTOGAMIA. 



(Stamens and Pointals none.) 



All those plants which never bear flowers, (and these are 

 very numerous,) are called Cryptogamic. They are totally 

 different in their structure from all the flowering plants, and 

 in the description of them various terms are used, that are 

 not necessary elsewhere. The stems are without any thing 

 like wood. The vessels that supply the sap are very imperfect, 

 and in most of them there are no vessels at all, but the whole 

 plant is a collection of cells or little bags. The seed vessels 

 are called theca, and the seeds spores they differ from seeds 

 in being able to grow from any part of their surface, and not 

 from one particular point alone. They are divided into several 

 orders, named from the nature of the plants themselves, as 

 Ferns, Mosses, Sea Weeds, Lichens, and Fungi. (For an 

 account of some of these see the Appendix.) The first order, 

 the Ferns, is too much sought after to be passed so hastily, but 

 deserve to be included in our general design. 



