874 
POLYGAMIA DICECIA. 
Ci^Ass XXIII. 
14437 myrtifolia Link. 
14438 aspera W. 
14439 oppositifolia W. 
scdbra P. S. 
14440 arbutilolia Link. 
14441 capensis W. 
Myrtle-leaved • 
rough-leaved ■ 
opposite-leaved : 
Arbutus-leav'd • 
Cape ■ 
□ or 
LJ or 
I 1 or 
CJ or 
I I or 
Ap 
Ap 
Ap 
Ap 
Ap 
1824. 
N. Hon. 1807. 
E. Indies 1802. 
C. G. H. 
1825. 
1816. 
Roxb.cor.2.t.l24 
History, Use, Propagation, Culture, 
the south of Europe. In these countries the fruit green and dried forms an important part of the food 
of the inhabitants. In this country it is cultivated as a fruit tree, but not generally or extensively. 
It is only in very warm situations that it will ripen its fruit in the open air, even though trained against 
a wall ; though there are one or two excejitions in Sussex on the sea-coast, where it ripens its fruit on stand- 
ards. The only certain mode, however, is to grow it in houses built on purpose. No tree is more robust or 
more prolific. Even plants in pots or tubs kept in a temperature adapted for the orange-tree will fruit 
freely, and ripen two crops a year. Kept in the temperature of the pine-apple, Mr. Knight has proved, that 
the fig will go on growing and ripening fruit without intermission. A variety of curious and important 
matter respecting this tree will be found in the Transactions of the Horticultural Society, and in the Encylo. 
Class XXIV. — CRYPTOGAMI A. 
Sexual organs hidden ; either imperfect, or not existing. 
This class differs essentially from all the preceding in the peculiar conformation of the organs of reproduc- 
tion, which are not formed of male and female parts, like those of the higher classes of plants, but areof a nature 
altogether different, consisting either of buds under a particular form, or of vessels containing vegetable sub- 
stances analogous to seeds, but differing in not being the result of impregnation, and in having the power of 
striking root indifferently from any point of their surface. The internal composition of these vegetable sub- 
stances, which are denominated sporules, is, on account of their extreme minuteness, unknown. Willdenow 
describes Cryptogamous plants to be vegetables without any visible flower, and differing from other plants in 
their external characters, in which respect they also differ from each other. By more modern botanists they 
are said to be distinguished from other plants by the absence of lymphatic vessels, and of pores of the epider- 
mis ; but the latter character has been disputed, and neither apply to the three first orders of Crypto, 
gamia. For the purposes of this work, which follows the system of Linnseus, the definition, if it can be so 
called, of Willdenow is most applicable. In the arrangement of the orders of Cryptogamia, it has been found 
advisable to adhere to the divisions of modern writers, who, by extensive observations, and great powers of 
perception, have brought this most abstruse part of botany to a considerable degree of perfection. 
The orders which are here adopted, are 
I. FiLicEs. Reproductive organs uniform. Thecae naked, or covered by an involucre, placed on the back 
of a frond, which is either foliaceous, or contracted in such a way as only to cover the clusters of thecee, and 
always circinate when young. 
II. Equisetace^e. Reproductive organs uniform, in terminal spikes, composed of peltate, several-sided scales, 
producing on their under surface 4-7 elongated involucres containing the seeds. Branches whorled, rigid. 
III. LvcopoDiNE/E. Reproductive organs axillary, sometunes apparently spiked. Thecae? of two kinds, 
the one containing granules, the other larger bodies. Stems covered with many small leaves. 
IV. Maksileace^. Reproductive organs radical, uniform. Sporules? contained in roundish, one or many- 
celled indehiscent heads. Plants simple, aquatic. 
V. Musci. Reproductive organs of two kinds. Thecae many-seeded, solitary, furnished with an operculum 
and columella. Plants leafy. 
VI. HepaticjE. Reproduc tive organs of two kinds. 1st. Thecse without an ojierculum, either naked or 
sessile, or furnished with a veil, through which they are, more or less, protruded. Sporules naked, or mixed 
with spiral threads. 2d. Minute, roundish, or oblong bodies variously situated. Plants frondose, of a cellular 
structure, not submersed. 
VII. Alu/E. Reproductive organs of two kinds. 1st. Thecae or tubercles variously situated. 2d. Sporules 
or granules naked, or immersed in the frond. Plants always aquatic, and submersed. 
VIII. LiCHENES. Reproductive organs uniform. Sporules deposited in receptacles of various forms, dis- 
tinct in substance from the thallus, which is either pulverulent, crustaceous, membranous, fohaceous, or 
branched and shrub-like. 
IX. FuNCii. Reproductive organs uniform. Sporules arranged in tubular cells, placed in some part of the 
external surface. Substance various, mostly thick and fleshy, sometimes vesicular. Thallus none. 
A few other divisions, such as Hypoxyla, &c., which have been proposed by some writers of authority, not 
having appeared to possess characters of sufficient importance, are here merged in others. 
In consequence of the wide difference which exists between the lower orders of vegetables and the higher, 
and the impossibility of subjecting the former to cultivation, it has been found requisite, with the exception 
