2 definitions
for Cryptogamia
From The 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
From WordNet (r) 2.0 :
Cryptogamia
n : in former classification systems: one of two major plant
divisions, including all plants that do not bear seeds:
ferns, mosses, algae, fungi [ant: Phanerogamae]
