254 TASMANIAN BRYOPHYTA, 



R.S. TAS. 



Siihagnum subhicoJor Hainpe. 

 Syn : Sphagnum centrale Jens. 



Robust, long in favourable sites, in other places rather 

 short. Divergents short, often all under 1 cm., occasion- 

 ally longer with tapering ends. Stem cortex broad of four 

 series of cells without fibres ; sclerotic ring brown, narrow, 

 pith broad. Stem leaves 2 mm., broadly ligulate, very 

 obtuse, tracheids without fibres. Cortex of branch inflated, 

 fibred. Leaves of divergents very broadly oblong, very 

 obtuse, concave, cuspidate on dorsal surface of apex, 2 mm. 

 border very naiTow, tracheids broad, short, pores oblong, 

 large, numerous along both borders ; cells narrow elliptic, 

 nearly central, enclosed. 



Variable in habit according to local conditions from 

 short and dense to very long and slender, but the branches 

 always relatively short. 



Mr. Field, Blue Tier, Western Tiers, Cradle Mt., etc. 



Sub-section Rigfida. Robust; leaves concave, more or 

 less geniculate, apex obtuse, minutely cuspidate ; tracheids 

 broad 40-50/x diameter ; brauch cortex without fibre, stem 

 cortex of 3-4 series of medium-sized cells. Chlorophyllous 

 cells elliptic, small or medium sized, central. 



Usually robust; stem leaves oblong antarcticum. 



Slender; stem leaves ovate Weymouthii. 



Sphagnum antarcticum Mitt. 



Robust with rather long tapering branches, 3-4 cm. Stem 

 cortex narrow in 3-4 series of small cells without fibres, 

 wood cylinder broad, the sclerotic portion gradually pass- 

 ing into the small celled pith. Stem leaves broadly 

 oblong, obtuse, 1.5 mm. Branch cortex cells long inflated, 

 each with a sessile pore at the upper external surface. 

 Lower leaves of divergents broadly ovate, slightly genicu- 

 late, concave, 2.2 mm., apex rather obtuse, minutely cus- 

 pidate, border narrow, tracheids broad, pores small, few 

 chiefly at the angles, upper leaves narrower, longer, ob- 

 tuse ; cells elliDtic, small, central. 



Very common in numerous localities. Variable, the best 

 marked forms being : 



Var : austrah {S. ausfrale Mitt). Divergent branches 

 more numerous, less tapering, more erect, tracheids larger. 



Var: marrocej^hahim, Warnst. Divergents short, massed 

 in a dense head at the apex of the stem. 



Var: densissimum, Warnst. Short. Branches short, 

 densely packed on the stem. 



