cryptogamia

2 definitions found

cryptogamia - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Cryptogamia \Cryp`to*ga"mi*a\ (kr?p`t?-g?"m?-?), n.; pl.
     Cryptogami[ae] (-?). [NL., fr. Gr. krypto`s hidden, secret
     + ga`mos marriage.] (Bot.)
     The series or division of flowerless plants, or those never
     having true stamens and pistils, but propagated by spores of
     various kinds.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The subdivisions have been variously arranged. The
           following arrangement recognizes four classes: -- I.
           {Pteridophyta, or Vascular Acrogens.} These include
           Ferns, Equiseta or Scouring rushes, Lycopodiace[ae]
           or Club mosses, Selaginelle[ae], and several other
           smaller orders. Here belonged also the extinct coal
           plants called Lepidodendron, Sigillaria, and
           Calamites. II. {Bryophita, or Cellular Acrogens}.
           These include Musci, or Mosses, Hepatic[ae], or
           Scale mosses and Liverworts, and possibly
           Charace[ae], the Stoneworts. III. {Alg[ae]}, which
           are divided into Floride[ae], the Red Seaweeds, and
           the orders Dictyote[ae], Oospore[ae],
           Zoospore[ae], Conjugat[ae], Diatomace[ae], and
           Cryptophyce[ae]. IV. {Fungi}. The molds, mildews,
           mushrooms, puffballs, etc., which are variously grouped
           into several subclasses and many orders. The Lichenes
           or Lichens are now considered to be of a mixed nature,
           each plant partly a Fungus and partly an Alga.
           [1913 Webster] Cryptogamic
           Cryptogamian

cryptogamia - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Cryptogamia
      n 1: in former classification systems: one of two major plant
           divisions, including all plants that do not bear seeds:
           ferns, mosses, algae, fungi [ant: Phanerogamae]