THE FERX BULLETIN 



51 



Gymnospermae and Angiospermae. The first two re- 

 present what we are accustomed to call the thallo- 

 phytes, the next includes the mosses, and the last two 

 represent the conifers and flowering plants. We re- 

 print the part of the list devoted to the ferns and 

 fern allies which will be very useful for com- 

 paring with Prof. Bessey's arrangement. It will be 

 noted, as an excellent illustration of the way in 

 which scientists differ regarding classification, that 

 Prof. Bessey makes a dividing line of the origin of the 

 spores, . whether Eusporangiate or Leptosporangiate, 

 while Prof. Schaftner bases a division upon the dif- 

 ference in size of the spores. This latter separation 

 removes the Selaginellaceae from their usual position 

 beside the Lycopodiaceae and places Isoetaceae farther 

 away from the true ferns than in Prof. Bessey's list. 

 It seems here to be a case of "paying your money and 

 taking your choice." In a later paper by Prof. Schaft- 

 ner (Ohio Naturalist, Vol. 9, p. 49T)) the plants are 

 divided into sixteen groups the Pteridophytes are again 

 rearranged, this time the Lycopodiiuns zn&Sclagincllas 

 are placed together in the Lepidophyta, the Equis- 

 ct it ins and certain fossils have the Calamophyta, while 

 the ferns, Isotcs, Marsiliaceae and Salviniaceae are 

 placed in the Ptenophyta, this last a new word coined 

 to include the plants named. Xo mention is made of 

 the Ophioglossaceae but these would of course be in- 

 cluded with the ferns. The earlier list relating to the 

 Pteridophytes is here printed. 



IV. PTERIDOPHYTA HOMOSPORAE. 



Filices. Ferns. 1,000 living species. 



Sporophyte herbaceous or tree-like, usually with a 

 horizontal rhizome, simple or branched; leaves usually 

 large, alternate and mostly compound, rarely grass- 



