88 



ANTHOPHYTA. Flowering Plants. 

 (PHANEROGAMS) 



As explained in the introduction the term 

 Flowering Plants conveys an erroneous impression il 

 used in contrast to the cryptogams, the so-called non- 

 flowering plants ; hence various attempts have been made to 

 introduce a more accurate designation, e.g. Spermatophyta, 

 Siphonogama. Rut these names, although suitable lor 

 purposes of classification, are not sufficiently convenient 

 for general use. 



The defining of a Jlower, as far as it relates to the 

 angiosperms, is a simple matter; but if one attempts to do 

 so with regard to the gymnosperms serious difficulties 

 arise. Some authors look upon each ovuliferous scale in 

 the cone of Pimts as a flower, but others consider the 

 whole cone as one flower. In Gnetaceae, however, 

 e.g. IVelwitschia, the latter view cannot be accepted, 

 neither for the male nor the female cone, for here each 

 scale supports an individual flower. 



Similarly, if the cones of Encephalartos, male as well 

 as female, or the aggregation of sporophylls at the apex of 

 a Cycas, be called flowers, the spikes of sporophylls of 

 Equisetu?}ii or Selaginella are just as much flowers, and vet 

 we cannot very well include the latter among the flowering 

 plants. 'Hie more advanced student will find it very 

 interesting to compare the arguments brought forward by 

 the various writers in support of their respective views, but 

 this is not the place to discuss them. 



We shall therefore employ the term Flowering 

 Plants in accordance with long established practice, 

 although the term flower has, especially among the 

 gymnosperms, a somewhat arbitrary and variable meaning. 



