14 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



escape in dry weather, which is most favorable for wide dis- 

 persion. 



The Peat Mosses of Europe and America are the same in 

 the main. There are, according to recent continental authors, a 

 great number of species, which it requires all the trained ability 

 of an expert to recognize. But for our purposes there are two 

 easily recognized groups, each of which contains many so-called 

 species. 



The Spoon-leaved Peat Mosses, PI. Ill, c, c , c" , are easily 

 recognized by their thick branches and their broad spoon-shaped 

 leaves. The acute-leaved Peat Mosses are figured in a, a , and 

 b, b. Figure b represents the Acute-leaved Peat Moss, which 

 is common in all the peat bogs of Europe and America. It is 

 often tinged at the top with a bright red or crimson color. The 

 Squarrose Peat Moss is one of the acute-leaved group, but is 

 easily distinguished by the spreading tips of the leaves, as is 

 indicated in Figs, a, a'. The branches are much stouter than in 

 the Acute-leaved Peat Moss. 



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