VI MOSSES {MUSCI): SPHAGNACEA^—ANDRE^ACEJL 159 



According to Schimper, the divergence of the leaves of the main 

 axis is always two-fifths, but on the smaller branches variations 

 from this sometimes occur. The leaves show no trace of a 

 midrib. As the axis elongates the leaves become separated, as 



Fig. 76. — Sphagnum {sj>); A, B, Young protonemata, X262; C, an older protonema with a leafy 



bud (/t), X about 40 ; ?-, marginal rhizoids. 



well as the lower branches, but upon the smaller branches they 

 remain closely imbricated. Root-hairs are present only in the 

 earlier stages of the plant's growth, and are only occasionally 

 found in a very rudimentary condition in the older ones. 



The spores of Sphagnum on germination form first a very 



