OF CLASS XXIV. CRYPTOGAM!^ 



CHAP. XXVII. 



OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH CLASS, CRYPTOGAMIA* 



THIS class consists of such plants as conceal their fructification, 

 having their flowers either within the fruit, or so small, as not to 

 be perceptible to the naked eye. The fructification in these is 

 also of an uncommon structure. The orders are four, contain- 

 ing seventy-eight genera, viz. 



Order f. Filices, ferns, comprehending such plants as are 

 dorsiferousf . What is known of the fructification of these plants^ 

 amounts only to the few characters following : 



Characters of the Filices. 



Calyx — A squama growing out 'of the leaf, opening on one of 

 its sides ; and under which there are pedunculate globules ; each 



sown, but the fruit may nevertheless swell, and come to an appearance of perfection ; 

 and so it is observed to do in the instance in question, and in many others, espe- 

 cially where the fruit is formed of one of the parts less connected with the seed ; as 

 calyx, receptacle, &c. though it is more common for it to drop off before it ripens, 

 if not fecundated by the male. Author. 



* The plants of this class are often of a dangerous quality. 



-f Bearing the fruit on the back of the leaf. These have been called also epi- 

 pfiyllospermoas, a Greek compound expressive of the same circumstance; capillary, 

 as being esteemed good for the hair f and acaules, without stems ; for in these plants^ 

 what rises out of the ground is plainly a leaf only; one of the characters of a stem 

 or trunk is, to be alike on every ; side ; but in the stalks of ferns, there is manifestly » 

 front and back, the former being flat and channelled, and the latter convex 5 which' 

 sliows them to be leaves. Author 



