Oil Bog Mosses. 257 



with annular and spiral fibres and numerous large pores ; cTiloro- 

 jphyll cells h'igonous, compressed, nearest the upper surface of leaf 



Male amentula numerous, elongated, clavate, thichisli, ochra- 

 ceous or hroivn, the antheridia confined to the terminal part ; bracts 

 broadly ovate, acuminate. 



Fruit in the capitulum or upper part of stem, bracts pale green, 

 the loiver ovato-acuminate, upper ohovafe-ohlong, convolute, obtusely 

 pointed, rather densely areolate, without fibres or pores. 



Var. l3, squarrosulum Kussow. 



Plants very small, branch leaves recurved at apex. 



Hab. — Shallow bogs on subalpine heaths unmixed with other 

 species; frequent in Central and Northern Europe. In this 

 coimtry it has been found on Ben Ledi, by Dr. Stirton ; at Killin, 

 Ben Lawers, Stronach rocks in Glen Lyon, and Banchory, by the 

 late Mr. Hunt ; and at Dent, Skegglesmere, &c., Westmoreland, by 

 Mr. Barnes. 



The Irish specimens named Sph. Girgensohnii in Dr. Moore's 

 Synopsis, belong to Sph. acutifolimn. This species stands inter- 

 mediate between Sph. acutifolium and Sph. fimbriatum, and has no 

 doubt been frequently mistaken for both, but by the characters and 

 figures now given it ought to be readily distinguished. The fruit 

 is very rare, and for both the specimens figured I am indebted to 

 the kindness of my fiiend Professor Lindberg, who collected them 

 near Helsingfors. 



