Bot. [a. Fr. cryptogame adj. and sb., in pl. -games, ad. mod.L. cryptogamæ (sc. plantæ), fem. pl. of cryptogamus, f. Gr. κρυπτός hidden + γάμος wedlock; after the Linnæan class-name CRYPTOGAMIA.
Brongniart in 1843 first divided the Vegetable Kingdom into Cryptogamæ, and Phanerogamæ, whence F. cryptogames, Eng. cryptogams, etc.]
A plant of the class Cryptogamia.
1847. Lindley, Veg. Kingd., Pref. p. xvii. The substitution of the words … Endogens, Cryptogams, Phænogams, &c., for … Endogenæ, Cryptogamæ, Phænogamæ, &c.
1883. H. Drummond, Nat. Law in Spir. W. (1884), 412. From the unicellular cryptogam to the highest phanerogam.
