Peat-Mosses 



spiral or circular thickenings (fibrils) to secure them against 

 collapse. They have lost the cell-contents which were present 

 in a younger stage and are, when dry, filled with air. (2) 

 Smaller cells (ducts), containing active cell-contents and leaf-green. 

 They are narrowly linear and form a net of rhomboidal or hexa- 

 gonal meshes around the large cells. The stem-leaves are distant, 

 obliquely inserted, erect or bent downward, flat or 

 concave, tongue-shaped, oval, inserted at the small 



Apex. 



Leaf from branch. Stem leaf. 



Leaf from base of 

 pedicel. 



Male branch 

 (perigonium). 



Sphagnum cymbtfolium. 



or large end generally obtuse. The "branch-leaves are smaller, 

 round, oval or lance-like, concave or rolled-up lengthwise. Each 

 leaf apex overlaps the base of 

 the next leaf above and every 

 fifth leaf lies in a perpendicular 

 line on the stem, directly over 

 the first leaf counted, that is they 

 are five ranked. 



The veil (calyptra) is a ragged 

 membrane left at the base of 



5. acuiifolium, var. rubellum. Cross-sec- 

 tion of leaf showing cells with cell contents 

 and empty cells with perforations. 



the 



as the latter 



spore-case 

 grows. 



The spore-cases are chestnut brown, globular, without teeth. 



115 



