22 FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



after all, the distinctions between the repro- 

 ductive schemes of the Selaginella and the 

 cone-bearing plants are actually very shght. 

 It may be argued that there is still a great 

 difficulty to be cleared up in the case of the 

 two plants under consideration ; the cone- 

 bearing plant produces seeds, whilst the Sela- 

 ginella does not. 



The development of the seed is a matter 

 which is peculiar to flowering plants, and it is 

 not possible to make anj' complete comparison 

 between the two species which have been under 

 consideration. In the case of certain plants 

 allied to the Selaginella, and commonly spoken 

 of as "water ferns" (Azolla), the manner in 

 which the spores are produced bears certain 

 points of resemblance to the production of a 

 seed. 



Recent researches into certain fossil plants 

 have led to the full description of a race of 

 plants which have been called the Bennettitecs. 

 It seems highly probable that these plants 

 represent the intermediate stage between the 

 crj^togams and the flowering plants. In many 

 respects they may be said to have resembled 

 the ferns in habit and character, although, on 



