EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA. 



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toothed ; margi.: inflexed ; hyaline cells wide, rcticulose fibred, with 

 many unequal pores, the marginal narrow, in two rows, the outer- 

 most having a longitudinal furrow at the edge ; chlorophyllose 

 cells enclosed by the hyaline, central, compressed ; leaves of the 

 pendent branches elongated, narrower, more distant, and imbri- 

 cated. 



Perichretia gemmiform, som'^what curved, not expanding ; the 

 bracts ovate and oblongo-lanceolate, subfalcate above ; apex with 

 two teeth, cells with fibres and minute pores as in the branch 

 leaves. 



Capsule rather small, immersed, or moderately exserted. 

 Spores ochraceous. 



Male inflorescence not amentaceous, but with the antheridia 

 scattered on the pendent branches ; not numerous, yellowish. 



Hab. — Marshy heaths and moorlands, and wet mountain slopes. Generally 

 distributed in Europe and North America, but not frequent. Fr. July. 



Rare in Lapland, but very fine and fertile, attaining a height of one foot or more 

 (Lindberg). Near Arlary, Kinross, Scotland (Dr. (Ireville). Linwood Warren, 

 Lincolnshire (F. A. Lees) ; Canford Heath, Poole, Dorset (Boswell). 



The tall highly-developed state of the plant is very wisely 

 selected by Schimper to stand as the type of this species, and the 

 name compactum retained for the short dense form more or less 

 represented in every species of SpJiagnum ; between the extreme 

 states we have a gradual series of transition forms which imper- 

 ceptibly connect one with the other. A remarkable peculiarity is 

 presented by this species in its perichsetial leaves, the areolation of 

 which accords with that of the branch leaves, instead of wit): that 

 of the stem leaves as is almost always the case. The fruit is rare 

 with us, but Dr. Greville's specimens from Arlary bear it in 

 abundance. 



Var. /3. compactum (De Cand.), Sciiimp. 



Plants short, 1-3 in. high, in very dense cushioned tufts ; 

 branches densely crowded, erect, short, thick and compressed, 

 their leaves rounded at apex. Colour pale rufescent, dirty white 

 or pale green, variegated with rufous. Capsules immersed. 



Synon. — Sph. compactum, De Cand. F1. Franc, ii. p. 443 (1805). Brid. Sp. 

 Muse. p. 18 (i8o6); Mantis, p. 3 (1819); Bryol. Univ. i. p. 16 (1826). Schwagr. 

 Supp. L pt. I, p. 12, t. 3 (181 1). Funck, Moos-tasch. p. 4, t. 2 (182 1). C. Mul:.. 

 Synops. i. p. 98 (1849). Wils. Bryol. Brit. p. 18, t. 61 (1855). Sull. Mosses of 



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