THE HOESE-TAIL FAMILY. 



109 



caverns with its luminous golden hue, while Cinclidotus 

 fontinaloides and Fontinalis antipyretica grow upon rocks, 

 stones, or woodwork in running streams. Being generally 

 destitute of economic or medicinal virtues, but few species 

 are of use to man. Some species of Hypnum are useful for 

 packing, and small, light brooms are made of Polytrichum 

 commune. 



Sphagnum is used for stuffing cushions, and for gardening/ 

 purposes. ^ 



The Liver-wort Family. 



(HEPATICEiE.) 



This family includes the genera Riccia, Marchantia, and 

 Jungej-mannia, containing about 700 species described by 

 modern botanists. These three genera are typical of as many 

 distinct families, but it is not necessary here to consider 

 them as such. They consist of small membraneous plants, 

 having a distinct axis, simple or much branched, or having 

 separate leaves. They are erect, or creeping, or lie flat upon 

 the earth, stones, or trees, some floating in water, and all 

 growing in moist places. Their spore cases are generally 

 produced on footstalks, sometimes on the leafy surface of the 

 so-called frond. They are widely distributed throughout 

 temperate and warm regions, but have no economic pro- 

 perties or uses, and can only be looked upon as botanical 

 curiosities. The genus Jungermannia furnishes beautiful sub- 

 jects for microscopic examination. 



THE FERN ALLIANCE. 

 The Horse-tail Family. 



(Equisetace^.) 



Leafless perennial plants with articulated, hollow, fur- 

 rowed stems and whorled-joiuted branches. Fructification 

 generally in terminal cone-like catkins consisting of spore- 

 cases containing spores, the latter furnished with four clavate 

 filaments which are elastic, and on the emission of the spores 



