CHAPTER VIII 
CLASSIFICATION 
The plants described in this work come under the 
CLASS Pteridophyta , which Class consists of all the ferns 
and fern allies, associated and yet differentiated by their re- 
spective methods of reproduction. The Pteridophyta are 
also spoken of as Vascular Cryptogams as distinct from the 
Cryptogams which include Mosses and Liverworts ( Bryo - 
phyta ), Algae and Fungi. The differences between the Pteri- 
dophyta and Bryophyta are as under : 
Pteridophyta . The alternation of generations takes the 
form of : 
(1) A vegetative prothallus, more or less developed, 
either monoecious or dioecious, on which sexual organs 
produce fertilisation resulting in 
(2) the more complex plant, which is recognised as the 
fern or fern-ally species, and on which spores are produced, 
which after falling from the parent produce prothalli similar 
to those of the first stage, and repeat the process. 
Bryophyta . The alternation of generations takes the 
form of : 
(1) the complex plant which is recognised as the 
species, either monoecious or dioecious, on which sexual 
organs produce fertilisation resulting in the production on 
the plant of 
(2) a capsule, containing numerous asexual spores, each 
of which may grow into a plant of the first stage, and repeat 
the process. 
