1022 



SYNOPSIS OF THE CLASSES, 



Cohort XV. Glumales. — Flowers in the axils of scales, wliicli are arranged in spikelets. 

 Periantli 0, or of minute scales or hairs or bristles. Stamens 1-15, rai-ely more. Ovary 1- 

 celled, 1-ovuled, Friiit a earjopsis. Albumen fleshy or floury ; embryo immersed or not. 

 — Grasses or grass-like herbs, 



54, Cypeeacejj. Perianth or of 

 bristleg, ravely of scales, or of a sheathiog 

 bract (Cwe:e). Anthers basifixed. Fruit 

 compressed or 3-gonous. Embryo at the 

 base of the albumen. — Stem usually solid and 

 3'gonou3 ; leaf-sheaths entire . . , 875 



65. GRAMiSTBiis. Perianth 0, or of 2 

 (rarely 3 or 6) minute oblique scales. Anthers 

 versatile. Fruit grooved on one side. Em- 

 bryo outside the albumen on one side of its 

 base. — Stem usually ftstular, terete ; leaf- 

 sheaths split to the base .... 880 



SUB-KINGDOM II. 



CEYPTOGAMOUS, ACOTYLEDONOUS, oe FLOWEELESS PLANTS. 



Plants destitute of stamens and ovaries, Fertilization effected by the action of 

 antherozoids on the nucleus of an archegonium, or by the union of the contents of 

 two special cells. Propagatioa by means of homogeneous spores, consisting of a single 

 cell. 



CLASS III. ACROGENS. 



Axie of growth distinct, growing from the apes, with usually no provision for sub- 

 see[uent increase in diameter, and with frequently distinct foliage. B«production by the 

 action of antheroaoids on archegonia. 



Cohort I, Filicales. — Plants with both cellular aad vascular tissue. Aatheridia, or 

 firchegonia, or boi3i, formed on a prothallus that is developed from the spore on its germination. 



• Spores lof oiie kind; anlheridia and archegonia 

 both produced vpon a prathalhts, 



1. FiLlCBS. Fronds circanate in vernation, 

 bearing sporangia on their under surface or 

 margins, or on separate fronds. Prothallus 

 bisexual ....... 893 



2. OP3II0GLOSSE.S;. Fronds straight in 

 vernation. Sporangia globose, coriaceous, 2- 

 valved, arranged in a peduncled or sessile 

 spike. Prothallus bisexual . . . 902 



3. EatJiSETACE^, Cylindric jointed 

 leafless plants, with hollow internode?, ter- 

 minated by a toothed sheath. Fructification 

 a cone of peltate scales, which bear on their 

 under surface several dehiscent sporangia. 

 Spores furnished with 2 filaments, that are 

 at first coiled round tliem. Prothallus uni- 

 sexual 903 



** Spores of two kinds, one containing antherozoids, 

 the other developing a prathallus with archegonia. 



4. MaesileaiOEJb. Fronds slendier fr.om a 

 creeping rhizome, simple and filiform, or 

 with 4 terminal wedge-shaped leaflets, cir- 

 cinate in vernation. Sporangia and antheridia 

 together contained in coriaceous globose 

 capsules, produced on the rhizome. Pro- 

 thallus producing a single archegonium . 907 



5. SALviNiEiE. Fronds floating ; mai'gins 

 recurved in vornatix)n. . Sporangia and 

 antheridia contained in separate capsules 

 produced at the biise of the fronds, Prothallus 

 producing a single archegonium . . 910 



,6. liYCOPODiAOEiE. Stems simple or 

 branched, erect, prostrate, pendulous,.or some- 

 times with a creeping rhizome, covered with 

 small uniform or biform leaves, rarely leafless. 



