CLASSIFICATIONS OF ORDERS AND GENERA. 
lxvii 
minute capsules, full of microscopic spores, situated on the under surface of 
the frond, or on separate branches of the frond ; rarely of larger capsules, 
which are confluent on the under surface of the frond ( Marattia ) or collected 
in simple or branched spikes ( Ophioglossum and Botrychium ) . — Plants rarely 
or never aquatic. Vernation circinate, except in the tribe Ophioglossece 
(p. 344). 
2. Xiycopodiaceae. Stem elongate, erect creeping or pendulous, its 
tissues similar to those' of Filices. Leaves imbricate all round, or distichous 
or tetrastichous, usually small, flat or subulate. Fructification of capsules, 
which are axillary in the upper leaves or in the scales of a cone, sessile, 1-3- 
celled, bursting by 2 or 3 valves, full of microscopic spores, which are 
marked by 3 radiating lines. — Plants never aquatic. Vernation somewhat 
circinate (p. 387). 
Phylloglossum differs from the rest of the Order in its fleshy roots, subulate radical leaves, 
and solitary scape, bearing one terminal cone. 
3. Marsileacese. Aquatic (freshwater) plants, of various habit, fur- 
nished with spiral vessels, creeping or floating. Capsules of 2 kinds, very 
various in form and structure, situated on the roots or leaves or stems of the 
frond, 1- or many-locular (p. 392). 
Azolla, the only New Zealand genus hitherto discovered, consists of floating blight red 
pinnate fronds, covered with minute imbricating leaves. 
4. Musci. Erect or creeping, small, usually terrestrial plants, with dis- 
tinct stem and leaves, without spirally marked vessels (spirally marked cells 
are found only in Sphagnum). Leaves always small, usually with a midrib, 
membranous or coriaceous. Fructification of two kinds ; 1, more or less 
obovoid or ovoid, brown, sessile or stalked, erect or drooping capsules, which 
open by a lid, or rarely by 4 lateral slits, or not at all, and contain minute 
spores ; 2, minute cylindric membranous sacs (antheridia), which are axillary 
or crowded at the tips of the branchlets, and contain spermatozoa. 
3. J imger mannie 3e. Plants all cellular, usually with the habit of Musci, 
but often forming flat continuous fronds with a stout midrib. Leaves without 
a midrib, usually distichous or secund, entire, 2- or more lobed. Fructification 
of two kinds, as in Musci, but the capsules are split from the top to the base 
into 4 diverging valves, and the spores are mixed with spiral filaments. 
6. Marcbaritieae. Leafless, wholly cellular plants, consisting ofbroad, 
greeu, rather thick, flat lobed fronds, with or without a midrib, closely appressed 
to the ground, and emitting rootlets from the under surface; cuticle porous. 
Fructification of two kinds: 1, capsules, usually symmetrically disposed on 
the under side of a peltate peduncled receptacle, which rises from the edge of 
the frond (rarely solitary and sessile), and contains spores mixed with spiral 
filaments ; 2, antheridia, contained in sessile or peduncled peltate or discoid 
receptacles. 
7. Characese. Freshwater plants. Stems leafless, branched dichotc- 
mously, and furnished with whorled branchlets, consisting of long parallel 
transparent tubes often coated with an opaque crust of carbonate of lime. 
