SPHAGNUM. 77 



die course" in restricting our British species to the four we 

 now enumerate. The fact of C. Miiller, in his late valuable 

 ' Synopsis Muscorum/ circumscribing these within almost 

 similar bounds, proves that the anticipations of the authors 

 of the ' Muscologia Britannica/ that few of these ambigu- 

 ous species would '' prove constant to their characters/^ was 

 correct. 



It is no doubt an interesting study to note the different 

 forms this varying Moss assumes; and those who wish to 

 pursue the subject further will find three varieties described 

 by Hooker and Midler in the pages of the works referred to 

 above. When the foliage gets old, or is exposed to drought, 

 it assumes a reddish hue. 



3. Sphagnum squareosum, "Web. and Mohr. {Spread- 

 ing-leaved Bog Moss.) Branches attenuated at the extre- 

 mities j leaves ovato-acuminate, squarrose, recurved. — Efig. 

 Fl.p. 5. 



Bogs ; common. Fr. Summer. Distinguished from the 

 former by its acuminate or pointed leaves, which are refiexed 

 at the extremity, and give it a very distinct appearance. 



3. Sphagnum acutifolium, Ehrh. {Slender Bog Moss.) 

 Branches attenuated; leaves ovato-lanceolate, crowded. — 

 Eng. ¥Lp. 5 ; Milll. 8yn. pt. 1. jo. 96. 



