EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA. 41 



longer and narrower points, and the chlorophyllose cells narrower 

 and quite smooth. 



No. 8 b of my Exsiccata belongs to Sph. papillosum, and if 

 contrasted with the male plant of Sph. cymbifolium it will be seen 

 that the inflorescence stands out almost free from barren comal 

 branches, while in Sph. cymbifolium they are long and closely sur- 

 round the male amentula ; the colour of the latter species also, 

 generally partakes somewhat of a bluish white tint. 



Var. /3. congestum, Schimp. 



Stems 2-5 in. high, densely tufted in large, compact cushions, 

 pale yellow, bluish red or brownish purple above, intermixed 

 with green, dirty brownish yellow below, somewhat rigid. Stem 

 leaves often fibrose in the upper part. Branches densely crowded, 

 ascending, short, thick, fusiform, their leaves very concave and 

 closely imbricated ; pendent ones very slender, often white. 



Synon. — Sph. cymbifolium var. congestum, Schimp. Torfm. p. 69, t. xix. f. /J 1 ; 

 Synops. p. 685, et ed. 2, p. 848. Braithw. Sphag. Brit Exsic. n. 10. 

 Sph. compactum, Brid. Bry. Univ. p. p. (sec. Schimper). 

 Sph. cymbifolium var. compactum, et var. purpurascens, Russow, Torfm. p. 80. 



Hab. — In drier parts of extensive peat-moors, and places cleared of turf. Frequent. 



This variety is remarkable for the various tints it assumes, 

 and these are not always preserved by drying, but often become 

 dull blue or brown. It also occurs under two forms ; one in ex- 

 tremely dense cushions of large size, as in specimens from Wither- 

 slack, Westmoreland, sent by Mr. Barnes ; the other laxer, and of a 

 more rosy tint above and pale below, very conspicuous by the 

 abundant heads of deep purple male inflorescence. In some copies 

 of my Exsicc. specimens of Sph. papillosum var. stenophyllum 

 have been placed under No. 10 by mistake. 



Var. y. squarrosulum, N. Hsch. St. 



Plants slender, in loose dark -green tufts, often with a dingy 

 shade below ; divergent branches turgid, loose, their leaves more 

 pointed and patulous, somewhat squarrose, those of the comal 

 branches distinctly squarrose. 



Synon. — N. Hsch. St. Bryol. Germ. i. p. 8 (1823). Brid. Bry. Univ. i. p. 4. 

 Russow, Torfm. p. 80. Braithw. Sphag. Brit. Exsic. n. 9. 



Sph. cymbifolioides, Breutel, in Regens. Flora, 1824, p. 435. Brid. Bry. Univ. 

 i. p. 749. 



Hab. — In woods and shady banks of ditches. 



