EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA. 



79 



Sph. acntifolium var. a. rccurvtttii, Weh. Moiir, Bot. Tascli. p. 74 (1807). 

 SwARTZ, Atlnot. Bot. p. 74 (1829), 



Sp/i. cuspidatnm a. Nees, Hsch. St. Bryol. Cerm. i. p. 23, t. 4, f. g (1823). 

 C. MOll. Synops. i. p. 96 (1849), et Deutschl. Moose, p. 125 (1853). Jensen, 

 Biy. Danica, p. 47 (1856). Sull. Mosses of Un. .St. p. 13, n. 15 (1856). Schimp. 

 Torfm. p. 60, t. 16, f. I (1858), et Synops. p. 675 (i860). Russow, Beitr. p. 55 

 (1865). Hartm. Skand. Fl.ed. 7, p. 399 (1858). Schliep. in Verh. Z. B. (Jesel. 

 Wien, 1865, p. 393. Mh.de, Bry. Siles. p. 383 (1869), et p. p. Auct. 



Sp/i. ciispidatiforme, Breutel, Bot. Zeit. 1824, p. 407. Brid. Bry. Univ. i. p. 752. 



Sph. albescens, HOb. Deutsch. Leberm. fasc. 3, n. 73 (1837), 



Sph.fiexiwsum, Dozy, Molk. Protlr. Fl. Batav. p. 76, t. 3 (1851). 



Sph. cuspidatnm et var. /3. rcciimum, WiLS. Bry. JJrit. p. 21 (1855). 



Sph. Mougcotii, Schimp. in Moug. Nestl. St. Crypt. Vog.-Rhen. fasc. 14, n. 1306 

 (1854). 



Sph. dubiuin, WiLS. Mss. in Herb. suo. 



DIoIcous ; plants robust, straight, in larq^c dense or la.K tufts ; 

 yellow green, pale green or sometimes pale ferruginous above, pale 

 brown or whitish below. Stems 6-12 in. high, greenish white, 

 fragile ; cuticular cells in 2-3 strata, small, thin, not porose, hardly 

 distinct from the subjacent pale peripheral cells of stem. Stem 

 leaves reflexcd, rather small, ovato-triangular, minutely auricled, 

 without fibres or pores, broadly bordered with narrow elliptic cells ; 

 the apex somewhat obtuse with 3-5 small teeth, not involute at 



margm. 



Branches 4-5 in a fascicle, two divergent and arched downward, 

 the rest pendent, attenuated, closely appressed to the stem and 

 concealing it ; those of the coma numerous, short, obtuse, squarrose- 

 leaved, forming a large dense capitulum ; retort cells elongated, 

 perforated, and slightly recurved at apex. Branch leaves densely 

 imbricated, erecto-patent, broadly lanceolate, involute toward apex 

 which has 2-3 minute teeth, when dry rather glossy, with the 

 margins undulate and points recurved. Border of 2-4 rows of 

 extremely narrow elongated cells ; hyaline cells of the upper half 

 elongated, filled with annular and spiral fibres, and with a iaw 

 small pores ; of the lower half very long, with annular fibres only 

 and no pores ; chlorophyllose cells free on the posterior surface, 

 trigono-compressed in section. 



Capsules numerous in the capitulum, exserted, and also in the 

 upper fascicles. Perichcetium yellow green, the bracts broadly 

 oval, pointed, concave ; the hyaline cells small, without fibres or 

 pores, lower ovate, acuminate, recurved at apex, upper elliptic 

 oblong, emarginate. Spores yellow. 



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