EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA. 55 



the base. Branch leaves longer, oblong-lanceolate. Perichretial 

 bracts lanceolate, acuminate, the apex with 4-5 irregular teeth, 

 hyaline cells fibrose. 



Synon. — Sph. molluscoides, C. Mull. Synops. i. p. 99 (1849). 



Sph. Mullen, Schimp. Torfm. p. 73, t. 26 (1858); Synops. p. 686 (i860), et 

 ed. 2, p. 841 (1876). Lindb. in Ofv. K. Vet. Ak. Forh. xix. p. 140, n. 9 (1862). 

 Sulliv. Ic. Muse. p. 9, t. 5 (1864). Russow, Beitr. zur Kennt. Torfm. p. 78 (1865). 

 Schlieph. in Verh. Z. B. Gesel. Wien, 1865, p. 403. 



Sph. molle, Lindb. in Ofv. K. Vet. Ak. Forh. xx. p. 414 (i'863). Milde, Bryol. 

 Siles. p. 391 (1869). Braithw. Sphag. Brit. Exsic. n. 21 (1877). 



Hab. — By moorland streams, forming small dense hassocks. Fr. August. 



Europe. — Near Jever, in Oldenburg, and at Detmold (C. Muller) ; Estrup, in 

 Jylland, Denmark (Lange, 1853); Hofmansgave, in Fuen (Hofman-Bang, 1861); 

 Hoor, in Scania (Berggren) ; Mt. Hunneberg, in Westergbthland (Lindberg) ; Silesia ; 

 Holland ; heaths near Dellbriick and Hoxter, in Westphalia ; Aurich, in Friesland ; 

 near Baireuth (Arnold). England: Darnholm, Goathland, Yorkshire (Anderson, 

 1853); Brickhill Heath, Bucks (Rev. J. F. Crouch); Rowdsey Moss, Ulverston, 

 Lancashire (Miss Hodgson). Scotland : Ben Lavvers (MacKinlay) ; about Strachan 

 and Banchory (Sim). Shetland: At N. Maven and in Unst (Sim). 



N. America. — Mobile (Sullivant). 



This plant is probably not uncommon with us, but has doubtless 

 been passed over as a form of Sph. actdifolnim, from which it may 

 be at once distinguished by its large fibrose stem leaves, which 

 want the wide border of narrow cells, so well marked in that 

 species ; but the barren specimens in some copies of my Exsiccata 

 are truly Sph. acutifolium. 



Var. y. tenerum (Sull. Lesq.), Braithw. 



Stems 1-2 in. high, densely caespitose, of a dirty white or 

 yellowish colour. Branches closely crowded, erecto-patent, their 

 leaves acuminate, somewhat undulate at margin. Perichaetial 

 bracts lanceolate, acuminate, broadly bordered above, fibrillose 

 in the middle, irregularly 4-5 toothed at apex. 



Synon. — Sph. acutifolium var. ? Sull. Muse. Allegh. n. 203 (1845). 

 Sph. tenerum, Sull. Lesq. Muse. Bor.-Amer. n. n ; Mosses of Un. St. p. 11, n. 5. 

 Sph. taoulare, Sull. Lesq. Muse. Bor.-Amer. n. 15 (1856) ; Mosses of Un. St. 

 p. 12, n. 13 (1856). 



Sph. molle var. arctum, Braithw. Sphag. Brit. Exsic. n. 21V. 



Hab. — In drier places among decayed peat. 



N. America. — Table Mountain, N. Carolina ; Mobile, Alabama. 



Europe. — England : Darnholm, Goathland, Yorkshire (Braithwaite). Scotland : 

 Dalfroo Bog, Strachan, Kincardine, in fine fruit, growing with Sph. rigidiim var. 

 compaction (Sim, Aug. 1878). 



