lO 



THE SPHAGNACE^ OR FEAT-MOSSES OF 



In following Professor Schimper in the separation of the 

 Sphagnincc as a sub-class from the Bryince or true frondose 

 mosses, I can simply record my conviction that this is by far the 

 most satisfactory mode of dealing with them, since they possess 

 in their structure various peculiarities, which are not shared in 

 by other mo.sses. It is to be regretted that this great bryologist 

 has changed his views on this point, for in the second edition of 

 his Synopsis he brings together the Archidiaccce, Andrcccaceee, 

 and Sphagnacece^ as Bryince anomalce, without supplying any 

 character for the same, though it is clear that the only common 

 bond of union is the large saccate calyptra, tearing open irre- 

 gularly, and they thus correspond to Hampe's section Saccomitria. 



The sub-class Sphagnince may be defined as follows : — 



" Plants densely aggregated, without roots except in the young 

 state. Stem with the axile cells soft, becoming indurated at the 

 surface, clothed with a cuticle of one or several layers of large 

 lax cells. Leaves nerveless, of a single stratum of dimorphous 

 cells, the small utricular ones conveying sap and chlorophyl, 

 enclosing the large, empty hyaline ones, which generally contain 

 spiral fibres and have their walls perforated by large or small 

 foiamlna. Inflorescence axillar, the male amentiform, antheridia 

 globose, with very fine, branched paraphyses. Capsule globose, 

 sessile on the apex of an elongated vaginula ; calyptra saccate. 

 Branches in lateral fascicles, aggregated at summit into a dense 

 coma." This will comprise only a single family and a single 

 genus — Sphagmim. 



In no genus of frondose mosses do the brancnes occur in 

 lateral fascicles springing from one point ; nor do we find in any 

 the peculiar dimorphous areolation of the leaves ; the nearest to 

 them in this respect as well as in external appearance is the 

 family of Leucobryaccce, but in their true structure they are totally 

 different, and they equally stand apart by their antheridia and 

 extraordinary paraphyses, and the loose cuticle investing their 

 trunks. 



As to the economic uses of the Sphagnacece, they are but small, 

 except as a source of easily procured fuel ; and in this respect 

 indeed they are of immense importance, for no substitute cbuld 

 be found in the thinly populated and barren districts of the north, 

 where trees become an insignificant object in the scenery, or cease 

 to grow at all ; yet nature, by the very means which produce 



