96 
portance in the case of well marked permanent forms whether 
they be accounted varieties or species, provided the distinctive 
characters be recognised and pointed out, but I think the exces- 
sive multiplication of species is troublesome, and not at all 
useful. However the permanent forms are numerous, and ought 
to be noticed, and I have included them in the table, treating 
the specific names of some authors as sub-sectional names, each 
of which includes several forms which may be regarded as 
species, sub-species or varieties, as botanists choose to value 
them. In each case I have given the author’s name where I 
could find it, and the most prominent and important characters 
of each form. In all cases I have adopted what I believe to be 
the oldest name, but my knowledge of the literature on Sphagna 
is less than my knowledge of the plants themselves, and I shall 
be glad of information on this point if older names exist, and 
shall accept them where satisfied that they are older. 
In concluding these remarks on their classification, let me say 
a few words on the seperation of two species that have always 
been classed together. S. molle I have separated from S. com- 
pactum. Inthe former the stem-leaf is very large, tapering to 
both ends, truncate and toothed; in the other it is very small, 
ovate, concave in some cases, and slightly fimbriated, but this 
last character can be observed only with pretty high powers. 
The branch leaf of S. molle is acute and toothed, of S. compac- 
tum it is obtuse and cucullate. Both grow in large close tufts, 
but in S. molle the stems are fine and delicate, in S. compactum 
rigid and strong. Hence I see no good reason for retaining 
them in the same section even, though the cell formation of hoth ~ 
is pretty much alike. 
The collection* before you was made entirely about Strachan, 
and shows the district to be rich in Sphagna, only a few of the 
rarer species of the British list being absent. A few words on 
the localities of some of the rarer forms may be of interest. 
Perhaps the rarest in the collection is S. molle, which I first 
found on Dalfro, but have since got on Cairn o’ Mount, Clachna- 
ben, and Cammus More. S. arctum I have found only on the 
lower end of Dalfro, or Doup of Becky, and it seems to be rare, 
the same form having only once before come into Dr. Braith- 
waite’s hands. Another rarity, S. riparium,1 found not un- 
frequent on the higher ground, such as Clachnaben, Cairn 0’ 
Mount, and the higher part of Dalfro. The large yellow form 
of SS. teres seems to be rare; I have found it only in Dalbreck 
and Powlair. SS. sguarroswm I got first on Scotston moor, and 
* Presented by Mr. Sim to the Botanical Museum in Marischal Col- 
lege.—J. W. H. T. 
ie ee 2h 
