CLASS BRYOPHYTES 



Sub-Class Musci 



ORDER I. SPHAGNALES (Peat Mosses) 



Family SPHAGNACEAE 

 A FAMILY containing but a single genus. 



SPHAGNUM (Dill.) Ehrh. (Sphag-num) 



A genus containing a great many species found in 

 bogs and swampy woods, along the margins of ponds, 

 sometimes submerged, on moist banks 

 by streams, and more rarely in drier 

 situations. An old Greek name for some 

 plant. 



Plants crowded together, sometimes form- 

 ing dense, extensive growths; varying in 

 color from pale to bright green, and in some 

 species from pink to deep red; fruit not 

 common. 



Stc?ns usually erect, continuing growth at 

 the tips, sometimes reaching several feet in 

 length, but, as a rule, the older portions be- 

 coming so decayed and fragile, that only a cymbmum 

 few inches of the plants can be gathered ; 7nuch 

 branched; branches arranged in clusters along the stem, shorter 

 and more crowded at the tips forming a conspicuous head. 



