6o 



THE SPHAGNACE^ OR PEAT-MOSSES OF 



thirds squarrose and recurved from the middle, those of the upper 

 third imbricated and elongated ; the other branches pendent and 

 appressed to stem, slender, terete, with all the leaves imbricated ; 

 cuticular cells elongated, the retort cells perforated but scarcely 

 prominent at apex. Branch leaves from a very concave base, 

 broadly ovate, suddenly becoming lanceolate above ; the margin 

 involute in the upper third, the apex minutely 3-4 toothed, 

 bordered by 2-3 rows of very narrow cells ; hyaline cells with 

 numerous annular fibres and two rows of large pores ; chlorophyl- 

 lose cells compressed, entirely enclosed by the hyaline, but comir-g 

 close to both surfaces in the lower part of leaf 



Fruit placed in the coma or in the upper fascicles, moderately 

 elevated ; bracts somewhat distant, concave-convolute, the lower 

 oblongo-elliptic, the upper very broad, obovate, emarginate and 

 slightly fimbriate at apex, laxly areolate, without fibres or pores. 

 Spores yellow. Male amentula terete, clavate, yellowish green ; 

 the bracts slightly squarrose, oblong-lanceolate, the basal cells with- 

 out fibres and pores, the upper shorter, with annular fibres and 

 small pores. 



Hab. — About boggy springs and the shady sides of moorland streams and in 

 woods. Fr. August. 



Not uncommon throughout Europe and the middle and northern states of North 

 America. 



This fine species varies much in size and robustness, but in its 

 ordinary state is readily known by its strongly squarrose branch 

 leaves. The stem leaves also have scarcely any border, and their 

 hyaline cells are almost uniform throughout the whole extent of 

 the leaf. 



Var. /3. squarrosulum (Lesq.), Schimp. 



Plants small, slender, in large soft tufts, deep green above, 

 whitish below. Leaves resembling those of the type, but only half 

 the size. 



Synon. — Sph. squarrosulum, Lesquereux, Mss. Klinggr. in Schr. der K. Phys. 

 QLk. Gesel. zu Konigs. 1872, p. 8. 



Sph. squarrosum /3. squarrosu/um, Schimp. Torfm. p. 7 1 ; Synops. p. 677. Milde, 

 Bryol. Siles. p. 388. Russow, Torfm. p. 64. Braithw. Sphag. Brit. Exsic. n. 27. 



Hab. — In ditches on subalpine heaths, and at edges of bogs. Not common. 



Europe. — Marais des Fonts, Swiss Jura (Lesquereux). Sweden and Finland 

 (Lindberg). In the Riesengebirge, Prussia, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, and Baden 

 (Milde). England: Darnholm, Goathland, Yorkshire (Braithwaite). Scotland: 

 Scotstown Moor, Old Machar, Aberdeen (Sim). 



