11 
Edward Newman 
Primary groups are called classes, secondary groups orders. 
The seven orders of Filicoid Acrogens are these : — Polypo- 
diacefe ; Osmundacese and Ophioglossacete ; Marsiliacese and 
Lycopodiacese ; Equisetaceie and Characese. 
The present paper treats only of the first, second and third 
of these orders, the British species of which are so few in num- 
ber, that it is extremely difficult so to arrange them as to give 
any idea of a connected series. 
Order. — POLYPODIACE2E, R. Brown.’ 
Plants composed of fibrous roots, solid simple rhizoma, and 
flat leafy fronds which rise with a circulate vernation and bear 
capsules in clusters on their hack or edges. The capsules are 
provided with an elastic jointed ring. The divisions of this 
order are still obscure, and require further investigation ; the 
subjoined arrangement is confessedly imperfect, but will pro- 
bably be found convenient to those whose attention is chiefly 
confined to the European ferns. 
Family. — Adiante/E. 
The ultimate divisions of the frond generally stipitate 
and leaf-like but without a mid-vein : clusters of capsules 
small, nearly circular, seated on the reflexed bleached mar- 
gin : no apparent involucre. 
Genus. — Adiantum, Linneus. 
No mid-vein : veins of divisions of the frond variously 
branched, free at extremity : involucre not apparent : clus- 
ters of capsules nearly orbicular and situate on a bleached 
reflexed margin. 
Adiantum Capillus-Veneris. 
Adiantum Capillus-Veneris, Linn. Sp. PL 1559 ; Light/. 
FI. Scot. 079 ; Huds. FI. Ang. 400 ; Bolt. Fil. Brit. 
24, t. 29 ; With. Arr. 781 ; 8m. E. F. iv. 320, E. B. 
1564; Mack. FI. Hib. 344; Newvi. N. A. 9, F. 83; 
Jlook. and Am. 570 ; Bah. 410. 
