f 



64 



THE SPHAGNACE^ OR PEAT-MOSSES OF 



oblong, upper very broad, convolute, cucullate when young, obtuse 

 or emarginate or with a small central apiculus, rather laxly areolate, 

 without fibres or pores. Spores ferruginous. 



Male amentula elongated, fusiform, yellowish green ; the bracts 

 ovate, acute. 



Hab.— Bogs and marshy hollows. Fr. June and July. 



Europe. — Not uncommon in the north. Scandinavia, Silesia, Prussia, Thuringia, 

 Brandenburg, Holland, Belgium. England: Frequent in Lancashire and Yorkshire. 

 Scotland : Sporadically as far north as Shetland. 



N. America. — Not common. 



This species is readily distinguished by its pale green colour, 

 and large obovate stem leaves, iaxly areolate and fringed all round 

 the upper half. It does not appear to be subject to much varia- 

 tion, except in the length of the stem or depth of colour, which is 

 never tinged with purple. 



13. Sphagnum strictum, Lindberg. 



Pl. XVII. 

 Dioicous ; yellowish green. Cuticular cells of stem in 3-4 

 strata. Stem leaves lingulate-spathulate, truncate and laciniate- 

 fimbriate at apex, but not below the rounded apical angles ; 

 broadly bordered with narrow cells. Branch leaves ovato-lanceo- 

 late, the chlorophyllose cells trigonous, nearest the upper surface 

 of leaf. Perichaetial bracts obovate-oblong, pointed. Male 

 amentula elongated, clavate. 



Synon. — Sph. strictum, Lindb. Mss. et in Ofv. K. Vet. Ak. Forh. xix. p. 138 (1862), 

 (ut forma Sph. fimbriati). Hartm. Skand. Fl. ed. 10 (1871). Braithw. in Monthl. 

 Micr. Journ. June, 1874, p. 256, t. 66, et Sphag. Brit. Exsic. n. 42 (1877). 



Sph. Girgejisohnii, Russow, Beitr. Torf. p. 46 (1865). Milde, Bry. Siles. p. 387 

 (1869). Klingg. in Schr. der K. Phys. (Ek. Gesel. zu Konigs. 1872, p. 3. Sulliv. 

 Icon. Muse. Suppl. t. 5, p. 14 (1875). Schimp. Synops. ed. 2, p. 827 (1876). 



Sph. fimbriatum var. ?najus, Aucx. 



Dioicous ; resembling Sph. fimbriatum, but more robust, 

 yellowish or pale brownish green, in lax tufts. Stem straight, 

 pale, 6-10 in. high, with 3-4 layers of porose cuticular cells, those 

 of the peripheral layers pale green. Stem leaves erect, appressed 

 to stem, ligulate-spathulate, truncate and laciniate-fimbriate at 

 apex, but not below the rounded apical angles ; hyaline cells of 

 upper part rhombic, of middle base rhomboidal, free from fibres 

 and pores, lateral of base very narrow, and with the chlorophyllose 

 cells forming a very broad border extending up to apex. 



