CHAPTER XXVI 
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CRYPTOGAMS ; 
EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF PLANTS 
329. Characteristics of Cryptogams.—Something has 
been done in the three preceding chapters in the way of 
summing up facts regarding the form, structure, and mode 
of life of alge, fungi, bryophytes, and pteridophytes. But 
before leaving altogether the subject of cryptogamous 
plants it is worth while very briefly to sum up a few 
points concerning them. 
Cryptogams are often called flowerless plants, but this 
is a poor name for them, for the reproductive apparatus of 
a moss is somewhat flower-like and that of the horse- 
tails (Equwisetum) is decidedly so (Sect. 328). The simplest 
common name for cryptogams, which is also accurate, is 
spore-plants. What spores are has already been stated in 
Sect. 265. 
A very little study is enough to give some idea of what 
an immense variety of plant forms is comprised in the 
great division of the vegetable kingdom known as cryptog- 
amous plants. This variety renders it difficult to make 
statements about spore-plants which will apply to all of 
them. Generally speaking, they are much simpler in struc- 
ture than seed-plants and many are microscopic in size. 
330. Importance of Cryptogams. — Because seed-plants 
are most of them of relatively large size and are such 
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