608 DELATION TO ENVIRONMENT. 



with the fact that the humus acid present in the moor retards 

 absorption, gives a very characteristic aspect to the vegetation 

 of the moors. The vegetation is more or less xerophytic. While 

 some plants which grow on higher ground are found in moors, 



still there are many plants which are 

 characteristic of the moors. Some of 

 these plants are found in both the high 

 moor and meadow-moor, but there are 

 a few which are characteristic of each 

 kind, so that the meadow-moor con- 

 tains many species which are not 

 found in the high moor. 



The meadow-moors have grasses 

 or sedges as the dominant vegetation, 

 so that there are "meadows," or 

 meadow-like expanses of grasses. 

 These would be classed technically 

 with meadows, but differ from the 

 other types, where there is more true 

 soil and vegetation thoroughly decayed. 

 The high moors have been built up 

 principally by growth of the peat-moss, 

 or sphagnum. The spongy character of 

 the cushions of sphagnum enables it to 

 lift water up from below so that the 

 lower parts are partially decayed and 

 yet the upper parts are abundantly 

 supplied with moisture. The struc- 

 ture of the plant is especially favor- 

 able for lifting up water. The main 

 axis bears lateral branches nearly at 

 right angles, but with a graceful down- 

 ' Fig 527 ward sweep at the extremity. These 



Two fruiting plants of sphag- primary lateral branches bear second- 



num. (From Kerner-and Oliver.) . 



ary branches, which arise, usually 

 several, from near the point of attachment to the main axis. 



