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CHAPTER LXVI. 



SUB-KINGDOM C0RM0PHYTA. 



Series Bryophyta and Pteridophyta. 



Sub-Kingdom B. Cormophyta. — This division, which includes 

 all other plants, can only be distinguished as a whole from the 

 Thallophyta by the general presence of leaves, stem, and root ; or 

 at least by the opposition of the stem and root. The alternation 

 of generations is more regular than in the Thallophytes ; a sexual 

 production of sporophores, and an asexual production of oophores, 

 following in sequence. 



Series I. Bryophyta. — The first series includes the Mosses 

 and Liverworts, which are cellular plants, with complete alternation 

 of generations, and without true vascular tissue. The spores, either 

 directly, or by the intervention of a protonema, give rise to the 

 sexual generation, or oophore, which forms the main plant, in the 

 female organ (archegonium) of which arises the sporogonium (sporo- 

 phore) from which the spores are asexually produced. The main 

 plant is therefore a sexual oophore. 



Class i. Musci. — In the Mosses the spore produces a large 

 conferva-like protonema, from which the plant (oophore) arises by 

 lateral branching, and is differentiated into stems and leaves upon 

 which the sexual organs are formed. The class is practically of no 

 palaeontological importance, and it will accordingly be unnecessary 

 to notice its divisions. All the fossil forms at present known are 

 of Tertiary age ; but from the occurrence of a Jurassic Beetle allied 

 to types which live in moss, it "is inferred that the class is really 

 much older. A number of species have been found in amber, most 

 of which appear allied to existing European types ; and some also 

 occur in the Miocene of Bonn and the Upper Eocene of Provence, 

 but the absence of fructification renders their generic position un- 

 certain. The genus Sphagnum, or Peat-moss, has, however, been 

 definitely determined from the Miocene of Westerwald. 



