CONTENTS. 
INTRODUCTION. 
CHAPTER L—PRELIMINARY REMARKS + i » . . . ^ 
GENERAL FEATURES,—Flowering and Flowerless plants —Distinctions 
between Ferns and Flowering plants—Distinetion between Ferns and 
other Flowerless plants— Variety of character and aspect—Popular 
estimation of Ferns— Choice of materials for study. 
CHAPTER II— VEGETATIVE ORGANS OF FERNS " ; ; 3 Mud 
Acrogenous growth—The Roors—Their nature and position—But- 
iress-like masses of roots in Tree Ferns.—The STEM 一 Caudex 一 
Rhizome—Their peculiar modes of growth— Accretion— Internal struc- 
ture—The tissues— Vascular system and venation—The 了 RONDS or 
Leaves—Not true leaves— Their diversity—Vernation—Peculiarities of 
strueture— The stipes—The lamina—Different modes of division—Vena- 
tion—Its peculiarities — Application of terms: costa, veins, venules, 
veinlets— Arrangement of veins— Venation as a generic feature. 
CHAPTER III. 一 REPRODUOTIVE ORGANS OF FERNS 
The Sonr— Their form and position—Dorsiferous and Marginal-fruited 
Ferns. — The RecerracLE—its systematic value—its position. —The 
SpronE-cAsEs—Annulate and Exannulate, or Ringed and Ringless Ferns 
—Vertical and Oblique rings—Rudimentary ring—Indusium—Involucre 
— Indusiate and Non-indusiate Ferns.—The Sronzs— Their germination 
— Prothallus--Antheridia—Pistillidia or Archegonia. 
CHAPTER 1V.—CLASSIFICATION OF FERNS . 3 5 ; x 
NOMENCLATURE AND ARRANGEMENT: In what sense important— 
Characters employed for generic distinctions— Venation as a generic 
character—Mr. Smith's proposed arrangement : Eremobrya and Des- 
mobrya—Their peculiar structure—Mr. Newman's scheme —The prin- 
cipal groups of Ferns, and their characteristics—Classification proposed 
to be adopted. 
CHAPTER V.—SYNOPTICAL TABLE OF GENERA 

