80 



SPHAGNUM LINDBERGH, Schimper. 



Of two species of Bog-moss, described by Dr. R. Braitliwaite in 

 the " Monthly Microscopical Journal " for October, one is recorded 

 as British, under the above-named 



Sphagnum Iiindbergii, Schimper (Tor/moose, p. 67, tab. xxv.). 

 S. cuspukttmn (3. fulvtwi, and S. fulvum, Sendtner, MSS. [M. 

 M. J., plate xxvi.] I\!onoicous, in large dense tufts, 6-12 in. 

 high, glossy, yellowish-gi-een, tinged with ferruginous or purplish- 

 brown. Stem solid, dark brown, with 3-4 cortical strata, formed 

 of irregular sized cells without pores. Cauline leaves crowded, 

 reflexed, broadly Ungulate, auricled, the apex broad, truncate, 

 and fringed ; basal cells hexagonal, in four rows, pale brown, 

 then becoming narrow and elongated, with a few imperfect 

 fibres in the lateral cells, these bound a central triangle, the 

 base of which is formed by the apical margin, and this space 

 is occupied by large loose rliombic cells, broader, and 2-3 partite at 

 the apex of the leaf ; both fibres and pores occur sparingly in the 

 auricles. 



Fascicles of 4-5 branches, of w^hich 2-3 are arcuate and diver- 

 gent, the others pendant, elongated, and closely appressed to stem. 

 Retort cells of the branches larger, recurved at apex. 



Branch leaves numerous, in five rows, not- undulated, firm, 

 brownish, or ferruginous green, rather glossy, ovate at base, be- 

 coming lanceolate above, toothed and involute at apex ; hyaline 

 cells elongated, with numerous annuhir and spiral fibres, and many 

 minute pores at margin; chlorophyll cells narrow, elliptic on 

 section, quite enclosed, but nearest to the back of leaf; border 

 widest at base, formed of 3-4 rows of very narrow cells. 



Male inflorescence consisting of few antheridea, which are 

 borne on the pendant branches. 



Capsules numerous, seated in the capitulum, moderately ele- 

 vated ; perichaetum large, inflated, the bracts yellowish-green, 

 lower elongated oblong, upper broadly obovate-oblong, convolute, 

 truncate, and fimbriate at apex, transversely undulate at base, 

 without fibres or 2)ores ; spores yellow. 



Habitat. — Deep liogs in the northern region of Europe. In this 

 country it was found, in 1867, by McKinlay, on Ben Wyvis, in 

 Ross-shire, and in America has been met with in Canada, New- 

 foundland, and Greenland. — Fr. July. 



Closely resembles S. intermedium, but is readily known by the 

 difi'erent form of the stem leaves, and the non-undulated branch 

 leaves unaltered by drying, as well as by the glossy reddish-brown 

 colour. 



