586 FILICES. 



of the organs, supposed to have been called into existence by 

 their agency. 



The striking resemblance that these organs have in certain 

 cases, to the cellular processes formed round the pistillum in 

 many Mosses, may suggest a partial objection. But the ques- 

 tion reverts to this, of what nature are these cellular processes. 

 As they are obviously not reduceable to the type of formation 

 of the pistillum, as is more over testified by the frequent pre- 

 sence of undeveloped pistilla, near, or among them. I incline 

 for the present to consider them as abortive anthers. 



We should expect from theoretical reasoning, that if imper- 

 fect anthers are found among Mosses, they would assume the 

 form of the perfect ones in those Families, in which the 

 sexual organs are doubtless in a far lower stage of develop- 

 ment, probably the lowest known. 



To this hypothesis, Anthoceros is at present an objection, 

 for with some analogies in its female organ with that of 

 Ferns, it has perhaps the most perfect Cryptogarnous anthers. 



The fact is, that in this, as in every other question, the ob- 

 jections will be numerous in proportion to the limited manner 

 in which the subject is viewed. Ferns form a tribe of beings 

 not to be understood if viewed as an isolated division of 

 vegetables ; but comprehensible, if viewed in connection with 

 the neighbouring tribes. The interpreters of their obscure 

 passages are, I think, to be found among Hepaticaeand Musci ; 

 and I therefore pass at once to a short review of the repro- 

 ductive functions of these beings. 



It is, I think evident, that Ferns do not present any obvious 

 point (punctum) to which the male influence is to be applied, 

 and which point, whenever it is obvious to our senses, assumes 

 the stigmatic form, as in all pericarpial plants. 



In this point of view, they are inferior to Mosses and He- 

 paticae : the inferiority in this may be fairly assumed as indi- 

 cating a corresponding lowness of organisation in the males. 

 The intermediate degree of organisation of generative organs, 

 is to be found in Anthoceros, which is a plant sui ordinU, 



