MOSS HABITATS. 



55 



pinnately branched; branches remarkably cusp-like at the 

 tips ; leaves large, oblong, rather blunt, and nerveless ; leaf- 

 cells narrow and elongated ; fruit-stalk lateral ; capsule 

 curved and turned to one side ; fringe, consisting of an 

 outer row of sixteen beautifully barred teeth, and an inner 

 membrane of sixteen tooth-like processes ; lid conical. 



Many species of Sphagnum will 

 be found in the bogs and marshes 

 of the moor-lands, heath-lands, and 

 damp woods ; and, whilst I know 

 of no mosses that are more difficult 

 to determine, at the same time I 

 know of none that surpass them in 

 interest. The most widely diffused 

 species are Sphagnum cymbifolium, 

 S. acutifolium, varieties ad lib., S. 

 contortum, and S. intermedium. 



Sphagnum cymbifolium (fig. 29) 

 is probably more readily made out 

 than any other species, unless we 

 take cognisance of some of those 

 very near allies that have more re- 

 cently been exalted to specific 

 rank. This is one of the largest 

 of our British species, having 

 stems varying from one inch to a 

 foot long. The branches occur in 

 bundles of three, four, or five to- 

 gether, some of which are pendu- 

 lous, and applied to the stem, and 

 others are spreading. The leaves 

 are closely imbricated, ovate and 

 obtuse; but the most striking 

 character is to be found in the cells coating the sides 

 of the tumid branches the utricles. These are elongated 

 cells, and in this species are marked with numerous spiral 

 lines. The fruit will be found from June to August, and 

 the male flowers in the upper branches of the stem about 

 March. 



FIG. 29. Sphagnum cyni- 

 bifolium. a, capsule. 



