On Bog Mosses. 219 



Leaves of the pendent branclies elongated, narrower and more 

 distant. 



Anthericlia home on the 'pendent hranehes, not numerous, 

 yellow when empty. Perichaetia gemmiform, somewhat curved, not 

 expanding, bracts ovate and ohlongo-lanceolate, subfalcate above, 

 the cells with fibres and minute pores as in the branch leaves. 

 Capsule rather small, immersed or on a short peduncle. Spores 

 ochraceous. 



Var. /3 compacium. 



Sph. compactnm, De Candolle, Fl. Franc. I, p. 443 (1805). Bridel Sp. Muse. 

 p. IS (1806).: Mautissa, p. 3 (1819). Biy. Un. I, p. 16 (1826). Schwaep:. Supp. I, 

 P. 1, p. 12, t. 3 (1811). Funck Moostasch. p. 4, t. 2 (1821). Nees, Horusch & 

 St. Bry. Germ. I, p. 13, Tab. II, fig. 5 (1823). C. Miill. Synop. I, p. 98 (1849). 

 Wilson Bry. Brit. p. 18, Tab. LXI (1855). Berkl. Handb. Br. Mosses, p. 306, 

 PI. II, fig. 2 (1863). Sph. HclvcUcum Schkulir Deutscb. Moos, p. 12; t. 3 

 (1810). Sph. ohtusifolium /8 minus Hook. & Tayl. Muse. Br. p. 3 (1818). Sph. 

 pjrwmorsum Zenker & Dietr. Muse. Thuring. Fasc. I, No. 18 (1821). Sph. conden- 

 satum Sehleielier, PI. Crypt. Helv. (1807). Sp>h. cymbifolium /3 condensatum Weber 

 & Mohr, Bot. Tasch. p. 73 (1807). Koehliug, Deutscbl. Fl. Ill, p. 35 (1813). 



Plants short, i to 2 inches high, in dense cushioned tufts; 

 branches densely crowded, erect, short, thick and compressed. 

 Colour pale rufescent, dirty white or pale green variegated with 

 rufous ; branch leaves rounded at apex. Capsules immersed. 



Yar. 7 squarrosum. Eussow. 



Sph. humile Schimper in Sullivt. Mosses of United St. p. 11 (1856). 



Plants forming looser tufts, with more distant fascicles of 

 branches, the divergent branches with loose squarrose leaves. 



Hab. — Marshy heaths and moorlands. ^, in drier places. 7, in 

 south and central Europe. Fr. July. 



Although the form compactum has usually been cited as the 

 species, we must certainly regard as the type, the plant in its 

 highest form of development, and this attains a height of nearly a 

 foot, especially too since all the Sphagna have a corresponding com- 

 pact form ; and moreover Bridel describes his S. compactum, as 

 having " filiform deflexed branches," which is doubtless the reason 

 why Prof. Schimper regards it as partly including 8. cymbifolium. 



The Var. ^ is most frequent with us, especially in the south, 

 and is rarely found with fruit ; in its smallest forms we sometimes 

 find that the ordinary cauline leaves are absent, and in their place 

 we have fibro-porose leaves like those of the branches. 



The species is remarkable for the cell structure of the perichaetial 

 leaves being identical with that of the branch leaves, and also for 

 the position of the antheridia, which are not as usual in amentula, 

 but on the pendent branches, and thus were long overlooked. 



