470 
Sphæropsideæ—continued. 
with brown, oblong or lanceolate sporidia, made up of 
a row of three or more cells; Phoma and Phyllosticta, 
e 
0099 
200 WO x400 
il b 
"~" o ** 
a 
Fic. 511. PHOMA HERBARUM—a, Pycnidia in transverse section, 
x 20, one-opened; b, Conidia still on the Stalks, x 400; 
c, Conidia free, after falling off the Stalks, x 400. 
with transparent, elliptical, one-celled sporidia (see Fig. 
511); Septoria, with long, slender, thread-like, pale 
sporidia; Spheropsis, with elliptical, brown, one-celled 
sporidia; Stagonospora, like Hendersonia, but sporidia 
pale. The pycnidia are very similar in all the genera; 
but Ascochyta, Phyllosticta, and Septoria usually cause a 
discoloured spot on the leaves or stems of plants, in 
which the pycnidia are grouped. Such spots are seldom 
caused by the species of the other genera. 
SPHZROPTERIS (from sphaira, a globe, and 
pteris, a Fern; alluding to the globose involucres). ORD. 
Filices. A monotypic genus, the species being a stove 
Fern. For culture, see Ferns. 
S. barbata (bearded). fronds 2ft. to 3ft. long, tripinnate ; pin- 
nules oblong, deeply pinnatifid, sori globose, on the back of a 
vein or veinlet ; receptacle large; involucre inferior, globose, 
stipitate, at first inclosing the whole sorus, at length bursting 
vertically into two spreading lobes or lips. Nepaul, Sikkim, &c. 
Syn. Peranema cyatheoides. 
TEMA. Included under Schizandra 
(which see). 
SPHZE:ROSTEPHANOS. Included under Didy- 
mochlena. 
MA. Included under Ginothera 
(which see). 
ELE. Included under Stenomesson 
(which see). 
SPHAGNUM (from Sphagnos, Moss). A genus of 
Mosses, found in all countries of the colder temperate 
zones. There are numerous species, but all delight in 
swamps, or in water; and they have, therefore, received 
the name of Bog-mosses, Seventeen species, and many 
varieties, have been recognised as British. So different is 
the genus Sphagnum from other Mosses in many respects, 
that it is placed in a distinct family, called Sphag- 
nacee, It is easily recognised by the swampy 
by its erect stems, several inches long, and 
of root-hairs; branches in clusters of from 
x, at Ts intervals along the stems, some 
S} ing, others reflexed; male organs on lateral 
_ branches resembling small catkins; female organs in 
lateral branches like buds; capsules at first apparently 
sessile, then supported on short stalks, and conspicuous, 
globose, and bursting (often explosively) by a false lid, 
unlike the lids in true Mosses. The microscope shows 
peculiar structures also in the stems and leaves of 
Sphagnum, which deserve notice here, as they bear on 
_ the uses of the Mosses in gardening work. The middle 
of each stem consists of a mass of small cells, of a 
brown colour, inclosed in a layer of smaller and darker 
brown cells, with thicker walls. This structure is much 
like that of the stem of any common Moss. But the 
stems of the species of Sphagnum have an outer covering, 
composed of from one to four layers (according to the 
_- Species) of mach larger, transparent cells, with thin 
walls, which in most are pierced with holes, leading 
from cell to cell. The leaves are numerous, and are 
- sessile, small, and more or less pointed. They have no 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Sphagnum—continued. 
midribs, and consist of a single layer of cells, among which 
there are two very different forms—the one long and 
narrow (inclosing protoplasm and chlorophy! bodies), form- 
ing a network, with large meshes, each filled by a trans- 
parent cell; the second form usually showing a thickening 
deposit in the shape of fibres, coiled in the interior round 
the walls, which are pierced by holes like those in the 
cells of the layers surrounding the stem. As in the 
latter, the transparent cells in the leaves, when mature, 
contain no protoplasm or chlorophyl. Their special 
duty is to suck in water from’ the swampy soil through 
the holes in their walls, and to pass it on from cell 
to cell upwards. They thus do the work of root-hairs, 
which are not present in these plants. This structure 
renders the Mosses of the genus Sphagnum almost as 
absorbent as a sponge, as may be easily proved by 
squeezing the water out of a clump of Moss, and again 
dipping the latter into water. The species all grow in 
compact tufts or mosses, often covering a considerable 
area. The plants tend to grow upwards, and to die in 
proportionate rate below. Some of the branches grow 
so large as to give the appearance of bifurcations of 
the stems; and, as these die away below, the stems and 
branches become separated, and form new plants. In 
this way, one form of multiplication of the individuals 
is secured. Reproduction is also effected by the spores, 
produced in the capsules. These are quadrangular in 
form. If they fall on damp soil, they produce flattened, 
branched, thin, green plates, on which Moss-plants grow 
from small buds. If the spores fall into water, they pro- 
duce slender, branched, green threads, like those of other 
Mosses; and on these buds are formed, from which the 
Moss-plants grow. 
The Bog-mosses are very important agents in the 
production of Peat Mosses and swamps, as they prevent 
the water from flowing away, and, by growing upwards 
and dying away beneath, add to the depth of the peat, 
though peat formed by them requires a long time to 
become firm suitable for fuel. 
Uses. In gardens, Sphagnum is of much use, inas- 
much as, when dry, it makes admirable packing material, 
being light, firm, and very elastic. The power of 
absorbing and retaining moisture renders the wet 
Sphagna excellent for packing round cuttings and young 
plants to be sent to a distance, as they supply water 
when it is needed. These Mosses are also much used 
in greenhouses for growing epiphytal Orchids or 
other plants of similar habits, which require plenty of 
moisture. ; 
SPHENANDRA (from sphen, a wedge, and aner, 
andros, a male or anther; alluding to the shape of the 
anthers). ORD. Scrophularinee. A monotypic genus. 
The species is a greenhouse, viscous-pubescent, annual 
or perennial herb. It thrives in loamy soil, and may 
be increased by seeds. 
S. viscosa (clammy). fi. violet, pedicellate, loosely racemose ; 
calyx five-parted ; corolla broadly rotate, with five broad, entire, 
psc ner lobes; stamens four. June. J. mostly opposite, 
oblong-lanceolate, with a few- teeth; floral ones much smaller, 
ovate, entire, very acute or bract-like. h. lft. South Africa, 
1773. (B. M. 217, under name of Buchnera viscosa.) 
SPHENODESMA (from sphen, a wedge, and desme, 
a fascicle; alluding to the form of the inflorescence). 
Syns. Roscoea (of Roxburgh), Viticastrum. ORD. Ver- 
benacee. A genus consisting of about eight species of 
stove, climbing shrubs, natives of the Eastern provinces 
of India and the Malayan Archipelago. Fiowers in rather 
small, pedunculate, sessile cymes; calyx five-toothed ; 
corolla tube short, the limb spreading, of five ovate or 
oblong lobes; stamens five. Leaves opposite, entire. 
S. pentandra, the only species introduced, thrives in sandy 
loam. It may be increased by cuttings, inserted in sand, 
under a glass, in heat, 
