CLASS CRYPTOGAMIA. 
243 
the one we are now to consider is termed Cryptogamous,* a 
term which signifies that the stamens and pistils are concealed 
or invisible to the naked eye. These plants constitute the first 
class of Jussieu, called acotyledonous j their seed being destitute 
of any cotyledon. 
As we enter upon this last of the Linnaean classes, we shall 
find all our former principles of arrangement to fail us, and 
that we are, it might almost seem, entered upon a new science. 
The class Cryptogamia includes all plants which do not find a 
place in some of the other classes. Some writer has said, that 
Linnaeus having arranged the plants which would admit of clas- 
sification, took the remainder and cast them all into a heap toge- 
ther, which he called Cryptogamous ; he did not, however, rest 
satisfied in thus throwing together the refuse of the vegetable 
world ; but subdivided this miscellaneous collection into orders, 
or we might more properly say, that he gave names to those 
divisions already marked out by nature. 
Of these orders, which are natural families brought together 
on account of general resemblances and analogies, without re- 
ference to any one principle, there are six. 
Filices, or ferns. 
The 1st order contains the Ferns ; their plume-like leaves 
are called fronds. The fruit, mostly disposed in dots or lines, 
grows on the back, summit, or near the base of the leaf or 
frond. You may here see {Fig. 47.) a delineation of some of 
Fig. 47. 
* Some French botanists consider that there are plants in reality desti- 
tute of stamens and pistils ; these they term Agamous. 
Founded on new principles of arrangement — Orders marked out by na- 
ture — Ferns — Modes of the fructification of ferns. 
