4 SPHAGNUM. 



HAB. Bogs, common. 



Many botanists, led by the remarkable similarity of the 

 capsules, and the peculiar structure of the leaves common 

 to the Sphagna, have been disposed to consider them all as 

 mere varieties of the same species. Some have even affirmed 

 that they have seen all the intermediate states. This may 

 be the case ; but as we have observed large patches of 

 Sphagna preserving a peculiar character in the shape of 

 their leaves, and this though other patches with leaves of a 

 *$ t different structure are frequentlyadjoining to them, we must, 

 until the intermediate states be fairly presented to us, in 

 conformity to most modern muscplogists, separate them into 

 species. On the other hand, the present plant may caution 

 us from the opposite extreme of multiplying species unneces- 

 sarily. We can scarcely perceive any difference between this, 

 the Sphagnum oblongum of Palisot de Beauvois, and S. com- 

 pactum of Schwaegrichen. The occasional erosion of the tops 

 of the leaves, a circumstance to be expected from their deli- 

 cate structure and exposure to the frequent vicissitudes of 

 temperature, can yield no character of importance as insisted 

 on by Schwaegrichen. Vid. his SuppLpars 1. /. 3. The var. 

 Jiuitans we have taken from Mr. Turner, who says that its 

 habit is very different from the common appearance of the 

 plant. 



2. 5. squarrosum; branches attenuated at their extremities; 



leaves ovato- acuminated, squarrose, recurved. (TAB. IV.) 

 S. squarrosum. Web. ty Mohr It. Suec. t. 2. f. 1. a. b. Engl. 

 Bot. 1. 1498. Moug. et Nestl. n. 209. 

 HAB. Bogs, not rare. 



Scarcely is this species to be distinguished from the pre- 

 ceding one, but by the more acuminated leaves, and their 

 being bent back in so remarkable a manner as to give the 

 whole plant a very squarrose appearance. 



3. S. acutifolium ; branches attenuated; leaves ovate-lanceolate, 



crowded. (TAB. IV.) 



S. acutifolium. Ehrh. Crypt, n. 72. (according to Smith.) Schwaegr. 

 Suppl. t. 5. S. capillifolium. Hedw. Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 6. Engl. 

 Bot. t. 1406. Moug. et Nestl. n. 11. Dill. Muse. t. 32. f. 2. A. 



HAB. Bogs, extremely common. 



4. S. cuspidatum ; branches attenuated ; leaves lanceolato-subu- 



late, lax. (TAB. IV.) 



S.cuspidatum. Ehrh. Crypt, n. 25. (according to Smith.) Sfohwaegr. 

 Suppl t. 6. Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 6. Engl. Bot. t. 2392. Moug. et Nestl. 

 n. 405. Dill. Muse. t. 32. f. 2. B. 



