CLASS XX. 
CRYPTOGAM I A. # 
MISCELLANEA 
EQUISE'TUM. Fructifications forming an egg-oblong, ter¬ 
minal spike. 
LYCOPO'DXUM. Capsules axillary, solitary, naked, kidney¬ 
shaped, with one cell, and elastic valves. 
PILULA'RIA. Capsules four-celled, globular, sessile in the 
bosom of the leaves at each joint. ; 
ISOETES. Barr. FI. solitary, within the base of the inner 
leaves. 
Fert. FI. solitary, within the base of the outer leaves : 
Capsules two-celled, (one-celled. Hook. E.) 
* (In the plants of this Class, the stamens and pistils are either imperfectly, or not at 
all, known ; or not to be numbered accurately. The Orders are all natural families, in 
general acotyledonous ; but certain peculiarities of the Filices seem to indicate an approach 
to the monocotyledonous organization. Excepting a few Genera included in the first and 
second Orders, Cryptogamous plants are either so minue in themselves, or in their efflo¬ 
rescence and organs of fructification, that for their investigation the microscope becomes 
essentially requisite; and with its aid, so manifold and surprising are the beauties of 
colour and conformation brought to light, that no genuine admirer of nature will be deterred 
from prosecuting researches into what may truly be termed a new creation. Subordinate 
as these tribes of vegetables may appear to our limited conceptions, they doubtless constitute 
an indispensable link in the great chain of being; and though the ignorance of some, and 
the indolence of others, may have frequently propounded the query, “ Quorsum tantum 
laboris in rebus adeo tenuibus insumptum ? cui bono haee omnia ? ” the more enlightened 
student will readily acquiesce in the just reply, “ Ut cognoscamits sapienliam Creatoris, 
quae in minimis, non minus elucet, quam in magnis operibus.” , Dillenius. 
And thus does it behove the higher intelligence, 
“ To trace, in nature’s most minute design, 
The signature and stamp of power divine, 
Contrivance intricate, expressed with ease. 
Where unassisted sight no beauty sees.” Cowper. E.) 
+ (The four Genera of this first Order, must be allowed to constitute a somewhat incon¬ 
gruous assemblage, very appropriately named. Some Botanists have proceeded to a fur¬ 
ther subdivision, forming from them nearly an equal number of Orders, according to a 
natural system ; and a recent authority has included them among the Filices , from which, 
in general habit, they widely differ* E.) 
