4 FLOWER LESS PLANTS 



to the same extent, either m number or in 

 general habits. There are thousands of species 

 of ferns in the world to-day, and in some 

 places these form a prominent feature of the 

 vegetation. This is notably the case in New 

 Zealand, where the number of kinds is not 

 only very numerous, but where certain sorts 

 grow to a very large size. Thus the tree ferns 

 may attain a height of forty or even more feet, 

 forming great trunks, from the summit of which 

 the giant fronds shoot out on all sides. 



The higher flowerless plants are usually 

 spoken of as the " Vascular Crv'ptogams," 

 although the latter word is misleading, in that 

 it means a hidden marriage. Nowadays the 

 methods of reproduction are in most cases well 

 understood. These higher flowerless plants 

 have well developed leaves and roots, and a 

 very cursory examination \^ill show that a good 

 deal of woody fibre enters into their composition. 

 In these respects the}' bear a certain resemblance 

 to the blossoming species. Striking differences 

 are apparent, however, when the reproductive 

 schemes are considered. As will be explained 

 with, more detail in succeeding chapters, the 

 method adopted in the higher flowerless plants 



