CLASS XXI. ORDER IV. 
343 
of capsules,) on various parts of the lower surface of the frond : involucrum 
none. 55. 5 — (polypod.) S'. 
Aspid' ium. Capsules in scattered roundish fruit-dots on various parts of 
the whole lower surface of the frond : involucrum a kidney-form or round 
membrane, fastened to the frond in or near the centre of the fruit-dot, and 
opening' on all sides, or to one side of the fruit-dot, and opening on the other. 
(The involucrum, when a little opened, is often peltate.) 5b. 5— (shield-fern.) S. 
Pteris. Capsules arranged in a continued line along the very margin of 
the frond: involucres opening inwards, being formed of the indexed margins 
of the fronds. (When the leaves are extremely small, the rows of capsules on 
opposite sides meet and cover the lower surface.) 55. 5 — (brake.) S. 
Adian "tum. Capsules disposed in oblong fruit-dots, arranged along the 
margin of the frond ; involucrum is formed by turning back the margin of 
the frond over the capsules, and it opens inwards. (The lines of oblong spots 
are generally along that margin, which may be considered the end of the leaf, 
or of the segments of the leaf.) 55. 5 — (maidenhair.) S. 
Onocle a. Fruit-dots indeterminate, presenting a berry-like appearance ; 
capsules covering the whole lower surface of the frond : involucrum formed 
by turning in or rolling back the margin of the leaf, which opens inwards, 
in maturity, towards the midrib, or remains closed. The fertile leaves are 
contracted and narrower than the barren ones. 55. 5 — (sensitive polypod.) S'. 
B. Capsule without a ring — being cellular-recticulate, pellucid, sub-striate, ra- 
diate at the tip. 
Osmcn' da. Capsules globose, pedicclled, radiate-striate or wrinkled, hav- 
ing a hinge at the joining of the two valves, which resembles part of the 
jointed ring of annulated fern3 : the capsules either occupy the whole frond, 
to a limited extent, or a pannicled raceme. (The parts of the frond occupied 
by the fruit are always more contracted than the barren parts.) 55. 5 — (flow- 
ering fern.) S. 
D. Sub-order, Apteres — without pinnate, pinnatifid, or other winged leaves. 
Lycopo'diuji. Capsules mostly kidney-form, or roundish, 2 or 4-valved, 
opening elastically ; they are placed under separate scales in a spike, or some- 
times in the axils of the leaves. Leafy, their stems being generally covered 
with 2, 3, or 4 rows of narrow, simple, entire leaves. 55. 5 — (ground-pine.) S'. 
Equise'tum. Fruit placed under peltate polygons, being pileus-like bodies, 
which arc arranged in whorls, forming a spike-form raceme ; 4 to 7 spiral fil- 
aments surround the seed (probably,) which resemble green globules. (Fer- 
tile plants mostly leafless ; the stems of all are jointed with toothed sheaths at 
every joint, and usually longitudinally striated and hollow. 55. 5 — (scouring 
rush, horsetail.) S. 
Order 2. Musci .* 
Fcna ria. Teeth of the outer peristome 16, cohering together at the 
apex, and twisted obliquely; the inner peristome consists of 10 membran- 
aceous cilia, opposite to the teeth, lying flatly. 56. 4. 
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 peristome : calyptre very small, with a large villose or hairy 
covering. 56. 4. 
Order 3. Hepalicce. 
Marchan'tia. Receptacles pedicelled, radiate-lobed, disk-like or 
bell-lorm, with the inside downwards, to which the globose 4-valved cap- 
sules are attached, with their apexes downwards. The umbrella-like 
* Mosses maybe gathered whenever the capsules have arrived to their usual 
size ; but they must be put in a closet, until the lids of the capsule become 
reddish-brown, before they are examined ; then the lids may be removed, and 
the teeth examined. 
