PLATiC
X X IV .— rOLYSTIOIlUJI ANGULARE, f« r. DISSIMILE.
X X V —rOLYSTICIIUM ANGULARE, VaVS. \ A— GRANDIDENS ; B—GRACILE.
X X V I .— P o ly s t i c i iu m a n g u l a r e , m r . c o n e lu e n s .
X X Y I I .— P o ly s t i c i iu m a n g u l a r e , vars. : a — c r i s t a t u m ; b—t o l y d a c t y l u m .
X X V I I I .— P o ly s t i c i iu m a n g u l a r e , var. K i t s o n i te .
X X IX .— L a str ea T h e l y p t e r is .
X X X .— L astrea ìMONTa n a .
X X X I .— L a s t r e a m o n t a n a , var. t r u n c a t a .
X X X IL— L a strea F il ix -mas.
X X X I I I .— L a . s t r e a F e lix -:m a s , vars. : A—p a l e a c e a ; B—i n c i s a ; c —p a l e a c e o -
l o b a t a .
X X X IV .— L a s t r e a F i lix -m a s , vars. : A—e l o n g a t a ; B—p r o d u c t a .
X X X V .— L a s t r e a F i lix -m a s , var. p um il a .
X X X V L— L a s t r e a F i lix -m a s , var. c r i s t a t a .
X X X V II .— L a s t r e a F i lix -m a s , var. p o l y d a c t y l a .
X X X V I I I .— L a s t r e a F i lix -m a s , var. S c i io f i e l d i i .
X X X IX .— L a strea r ig id a .
X L .— L a strea c rista ta .
X L L— L a s t r e a c r i s t a t a , var. u l ig i n o s a .
X L IL— L a s t r e a c r i s t a t a , var. s p in u lo s a .
X L I IL — L a str ea d ila ta ta .
X L IV .— L a s t r e a d i l a t a t a , var. g l a n d u l o s a .
X L V .— L a s t r e a d i l a t a t a , var. C i i a n t k r l e .
X L V I .— L a s t r e a d i l a t a t a , var. n a n a .
X L V I I .— L a s t r e a d i l a t a t a , var. c o l l i n a .
X LV III.— L a s t r e a d i l a t a t a , var. d u m e to r um .
X L IX .— L a s t r e a d i l a t a t a , vars. : a — c r i s t a t a ; B—a n g u s t i p i n n u l a .
L .—L a s t r e a d i l a t a t a , var. l e p j d o t a .
L I .— L a str ea ìemu la .
INTEODUCTION.
c h a p t e r I.
PEKLIMINAKY EEMAKKS.
G e n e r a l F e a t u r e s ,—Flowering and Flowerless p lants—Distinctions between Ferns
and Flowering plants—Distinction between Ferns and otiier Flowerless plants—
V an ety of character and aspect—Popular, estimation of Ferns—Choice of materials
for study.
T h e two great classes into wMoh the vegetable kingdom is divided,
and to which the terms F l o w e r i n g P l a n t s and F l o w e r l e s s P l a n t s
aro popularly given, are, in the perfect state, readily distinguishable
from each other by the peculiar features indicated in the terms thus
applied to them. In the one class, flowers followed by seeds, forming
the appointed means by which the Almighty fiat, “ increase and
multiply,” is carried out, are developed in due course upon the
parent plant. In the other class, there aro no parts produced corresponding
to flowers; the stem hears leaves only, these leaves
having their own varied peculiarities of development, among which,
however, is always to be found the property of forming, for the purpose
of multiplication, a peculiar form of gorm-bud, to which the
name of spore is given.
I t is to the second of these primary classes, th a t distinguished by
the name of Flowerless Plants, and bearing spores instead of seeds,
that the Ferns belong.
Among the secondary groups which, equally with themselves, form
part of this great Flowerless class of vegetation, the Ferns are
distinguished mainly by the nature and position of tho little cases