CRYPTOGAMS, 5tf 



CLASS III. CRYPTOGAMS. 



No real flowers, that is, neither stamens, nor pistils, nor 

 true seeds, the fructification consisting of minute, often highly 

 microscopic granules, called Spores, variously enclosed in sessile 

 or stalked Spore-cases (Sporangia) often called capsules, or 

 imbedded within the substance of the plant, the spore-cases 

 themselves sometimes so small as to be scarcely visible without 

 the aid of a microscope. 



The few British Cryptogams which are included in the present volume 

 have all of them roots, and stems or rootstocks as in flowering plants, 

 and in a few the leaves are somewhat similar, but in most the leaves 

 are more or less converted into fruiting branches, bearing the fructifica- 

 tion on their surface, base, or edges, and are therefore now generally 

 distinguished from true leaves by the name of fronds. In the remaining 

 families of Cryptogams, called Cellular, such as the Charas, Mosses, 

 ffepaticce, Lichens, Fungi, and Algce, there is either no distinct stem, or the 

 Btem does not contain any fibrous or vascular tissue. None of these 

 can be readily determined without the use of high magnifying powers, 

 and the assistance of carefully executed plates. However great, there- 

 fore, may be the interest attached to them, they are beyond the scope 

 of the present Flora. 



XG. LYCOPODIACE^. THE CLUBMOSS FAMILY. 



Stem or rootstock bearing leaves, either linear, or small and 

 1-nerved, or reduced to minute scales. Spore-cases solitary, 

 sessile in the axils of the leaves or of the bracts of a terminal 

 spike, 2-valved. Spores all similar. 



I. LYCOPODIUM. CLUBMOSS. 



Perennials, with a branched, usually creeping stem, crowded with 

 small, moss-like, entire or minutely serrated leaves. Spore-cases sessile 

 in the axils of the upper stem-leaves, or of bracts usually smaller or 

 thinner and broader than the stem-leaves, forming an erect, cylindrical 

 terminal spike, each spore-case opening by a transverse slit in 2 valves, 

 and either all filled with minute powdery granules, or some containing 

 larger grains. 



A large genus, widely spread over every part of the globe. 



Spore-cases in the axils of the stem-leaves. Stems tufted, scarcely 



creeping 4. L. Selago. 



Spore-cases in terminal spikes. Stems creeping or prostrate. 

 Creeping stems long and hard. Fruiting branches forked or 



clustered. 



Leaves about 1 line long, closely imbricated in 4 rows . . 8. Z/. alpinum. 

 Leaves 2 or 3 lines long, spreading, with fine points. 



Spikes pedunculate, usually 2 or 3 together . . . . 1. L. clavatum. 

 Spikes solitary and sessile above the last stem-leaves . . 2. L. annotinum* 

 Creeping or prostrate stems, slender, 1 to 3 inches long. Fruit- 

 ing, branches simple 5. L. inundcUum. 



