FILICES. 
577 
Pistils. The organs of reproduction, called by some 
seeds, but by others spores or sporules, are without any 
distinct embryo as in true seeds, and consequently with- 
out any cotyledon. This Class corresponds with the 24th, 
Cryptogamia, in the Linnasan System. 
Sub-Class I. FILICES 1 Linn. (Ord. CVIII.-CXIIL) 
(Tab. IX. f. 1—4, X. XI.) 
Fructification generally of one, but sometimes of two kinds, 
consisting of seeds, spores, or sporules, included in capsules (called 
also thecae or sporangia) sometimes surrounded with an elastic 
x’ing, and these either naked or covered by a membrane (in- 
dusium or involucre) ; generally collected into clusters (sori), ox- 
spikes, situated at the back of the fronds, or marginal, .terminal, 
axillary, or radical. — Usually perennial plants, with tubular 
vessels among the cells, hearing fructification during a great part 
of the year. In most, as in the true Ferns, the leaves are connate 
with the stem, so as to constitute fronds ; in others, the leaves are 
distinct, as in Lycopodium, which in general appearance comes 
nearest to the Mosses. 
Conspectus of the Orders. 
108. Polypodiaceye. Capsules dorsal or marginal, surrounded by a 
ring, reticulate and pellucid, opening transversely and irregularly. 
Fronds circinate in vernation. 
109. Osmundace.e. Capsules clustered on the margin of a transformed 
frond, with an obscure ring, reticulate and pellucid, opening by 
two regular valves. Fronds circinate in vernation. 
110. Opiiioglossace.e. Capsules arranged on the margin of a con- 
tracted frond, sessile, without reticulation or a ring, coriaceous, 
opaque. Fronds straight in vernation. 
111. Lycopodiace.e. Capsules without a ring, sessile in the axils of 
leaves or bracteas, or lodged in a cavity in their base. Leaves cau- 
line or rarely all radical. Vernation straight (not circinate). 
112. Mars ire ace ye. Capsules without a ring, within coriaceous invo- 
lucres that are situated near the root of the plant, not sunk in the 
leaves. Vernation circinate or involute. 
113. Equisetace.e. Fructification in terminal spikes or catkins, con- 
sisting of peltate polygonous scales, on the under side of which 
are involucres, which contain numerous globose bodies enfolded 
by 4 clavate filaments. Vernation straight. 
1 The Filiccs are here considered as a Sub-class, of which the groups or Orders 
are very distinct one from another and easily recognized ; we have therefore given 
short, but we trust sufficient characters of them. 
