Crŷp'to-gā'mi-ă, n.

n.; pl. CRŶP'TO-GĀ'MI-Æ. [Fr. cryptogamie, N. Lat. cryptogamia, from Gr. κρυπτός, hidden, secret, from κρύπτειν, to hide, and γάμος, marriage.] (Bot.) The class of flowerless plants, or those which do not fructify by the means usual to others.

Its subdivisions are as follows:—

I. ACROGENS, or VASCULAR CRYPTOGAMS. These have an upward growth, and contain vascular tissue, thus approaching the flower-bearing plants. They include, 1. Ferns or brakes. 2. The Equiseta family, or scouring-rushes. 3. The Lycopodium family, or ground-pine, &c. Here too belong the extinct species of the coal era in geology, called Lepidodendra, Sigillaria, Calamites, &c., many of which were large trees.

II. BRYOGENS, or ANOPHYTES. These consist of cellular tissue, but somewhat acrogenous in growth. By some authors they are included under the Acrogens, and others call the whole Cormaphytes. They include, 1. Mosses (Musci). 2. Liverworts (Hepaticæ).

III. THALLOGENS. These consist of cellular tissue, and grow in spreading fronds. They include, 1. Lichens. 2. Fungi, or mushrooms. 3. Algæ, or sea-weed.

IV. PROTOPHYTES. These are mostly unicellular and motile; the plant-infusoria, or Animalcules, q. v. They include the silicious Diatoms, the Desmidians, and many others of the so-called Animalcules. Dana.