SPHAGNUM. 3 



paler ; those of the perichsetium do not differ from the cau- 

 line ones, whilst the very reverse is the case with A. rupes- 

 tris 9 as may be seen both by our description and figures, 



2. SPHAGNUM. 



GEN. CHAR. Receptacle pedunculated, peduncle re- 

 sembling a fruitstalk. Capsule sessile, entire, its 

 Lid deciduous, its Mouth naked ; Calyptra irre- 

 gularly torn. (TAB. I.) 



In this as well as in the preceding genus the capsule is sessile, 

 being entirely destitute of a real fruitstalk. That which appears 

 like one is the footstalk of the receptacle, which in most of the 

 Sphagna is so much lengthened out as greatly to exceed the 

 perichaetial leaves. All the species as they are at present con- 

 sidered were by Linnaeus and the older botanists comprised 

 under the name of S.palustre; and all agree in the peculiar 

 structure of the leaves, in their reticulation being large, and the 

 interstices or areolae oblong, interrupted by transverse lines. 

 All, too, are destitute of a nerve, and are of a singularly whitish 

 colour, coming nearest to those of Dicranum glaucum and its 

 exotic affinities, and to Octollepharis allida. 



They grow universally in bogs, and frequently in water \ and 

 are found in various parts of the globe. 



The sessile capsule and irregularly bursting calyptra distin- 

 guish the present genus from Gymnostomum, and the entire cap- 

 sule and deciduous lid from Andrcea. 



S. obtusifolium ; branches tumid ; leaves ovate, obtuse. 

 (TAB. IV.) 



a. vulgaris ; stems loosely tufted, 7 or 8 inches long, leaves closely 

 imbricated. 



S. obtusifolium. Ehrh, Crypt, n. 241. (according to Smith.) 

 Hoffm. Germ. v. 2. p. 21. S. latifolium. Hedw. Turn. Mute. Hid. 

 p. 5. JEngl. Bot. t. 1405. Moug. et Nestl. n. 1 13. S. cjTnbifolium. 

 Swartz Musc.Suec. S. palustre . Linn. Dill. Muse. t. 32. f. 1. 



/3. minus ; stems densely tufted, 2 or 3 inches long j leaves closely 

 imbricated. S. compactum. Schwaegr. Suppl. t. 3. 



y. Jluitans ; stems much lengthened out, 2 feet long, slender ; leaves 

 icftttered, remote. 8. latifolium ft. fluitans. Turn. Muse, Hib.p.b. 



u2 



