CLASS XXI. ORDER IV. 
69 
turity, towards the midrib, or remains closed. The fertile leaves are contracted 
and narrower than the barren ones, (sensitive polypod.) 
B. Capsule withaut a ring — being celhdar-reticulate, pellucid, sub-striate, radiate 
at tJie tip. 
Osmun'^da. Capsules globose, pediceiled, radiate-striate or wrinkled, having 
a hinge at the joining of the 2 valves, which resembles part of the jointed ring 
of annulated ferns-, the capsules either occupy the whole frond, to a limited 
extent, or a panicled raceme. The parts of the frond occupied by the fruit, 
are always more contracted than the barren parts, (flowering fern.) 
C. Sub-order, Apteres — without pinnate, pinnatifid, or other winged leaves. 
Lycopo'dium. Capsules mostly kidney-form, or roundish, 2 or4-valved, open- 
ing elasticaily; they are placed ufider separate scales in a spike, or sometimes 
in the axils of the leaves. Leafy, their stems being generally covered with % 
3, or 4 rows of narrow, simple, entire leaves, (ground pine.) 
Equise'tum. Fruit placed under peltate polygons, being pileus-like bodies, 
which are arranged in whorls, forming a spike-form raceme.; 4 to 7 spiral fila- 
ments surround the seed, which resemble green globules. Fertile plants mostly 
leafless ; the stems of all are jointed with toothed sheaths at every joint, and 
usually longitudinally striated and hollow, (scouring-rush, liorse-tail.) 
ORDER IT. MUSCI. 
Funa'ria. Teeth of the outer peristome* 16, cohering together at the apex, 
and twisted obliquely; the inner peristome consists of 16 membranaceous hairs, 
opposite to the teeth, lying flatly. 
PoLYTRi^cHUM. Peristome very short; teeth 16, 32, or 64; mouth of the germ 
covered by a dry membrane, which is connected to it by the teeth of the peris- 
tome:; calyptra very small, with a large viliose or hairy covering. 
ORDER III. HEPATIC.E. 
Marchan'^tia. Receptacles pediceiled, radiate-lobed, disk-like, or bell-form, 
with the inside downward, to which the globose 4-valved capsules are attached 
with their apexes downward. The umbrella-like receptacle is elevated one or 
two inches by a stipe attached to the centre of its lower side, among the cap- 
sules, and many pilose appendages. The frond is leafy, reticulate, furnished 
with a midrib, and beset with viliose roots on the under side, which attach them- 
selves to the stones in brooks, to damp earth, &c. 
Jungerman^'nia. Capsules 4-valved, globose, elevated by peduncles or stipes 
from within a bell-form calyx. The fronds are made up" of finer leaves than 
those of the Marchantia, and are often mistaken for mosses, among which they 
generally grow, 
ORDER IV. KLGM. 
A. The section Fucoide^ comprises those sea-weeds of the old genus Fucus, lohose 
fronds are cartilaginous or leathery, and of an olive or copper colour, becoming 
drown or black. They are composed of interwoven, longitudinal fibres. The 
floating vesicles apper like portions of the frond blown up in bubbles. 
Fu'cus. Receptacles tubercled ; tubercles perforated, nourishing aggregated 
capsules within, intermixed with articulated fibres. 
B. The section Floride^e comprises those sea-v:eeds of the old genus Fucus, whose 
fronds are leathery, mevibranous or gelatinous, and of a purfle or rose colour. 
Haly-me'nia. Frond membranaceous, leathery, nerveless, punctate; seed im- 
mersed throughout the whole frond, disposed in spots. 
C. The section ULVOioEis comprises the plants of the old genus Viva. Fronds 
membranaceous, {broad, or in narroio slips,) thin, of a grass- green colour . TJieir 
substance consists of cells, with the fruit immersed in the frond. Then grow on 
rocks, stones, shells, t^c. in the sea ; also^ in ditches, stagnant waiters, damp 
woods, d^c. 
Ul^^va. Seeds in fours, immersed in every part of the membranaceous frond. 
D. The section Confervoide;b comprises the plants of the old genus Conferva. 
Fruit capsular or nocked granulations. Fronds filiform and geniculate, con- 
The peristome is the membrane which appears around the mouth of the capsule of mosseis, 
myXet the Jid 
