86 



THE SPHAGNACE^ OR PEAT-MOSSES OF 



Stem leaves numerous, resembling the branch leaves, erect, 

 ovate-oblong, concave, rounded and minutely erose at apex, the 

 hyaline cells fibrillose. 



Branches solitary, or 2-3 in a fascicle at the lower )art of stem, 

 short, terete, obtuse, arcuato-decurved, the cuiicular cells small, 

 the retort cells few, narrowly cylindric, not recurved at apex. 



Branch leaves laxly imbricated, very small, ovate, obtuse, the 

 margin incurved in the upper third, entire at apex ; hyaline cells 

 with strong annular fibres, and without pores, in section circular, 

 separated both in front and back by the chlorophyllose cells, which 

 are very thick and oval or obtusely trigonous in section. 



Capsules immersed on shorter lateral branches on the upper 

 third of stem, small, globose ; perich.netial brads rather lax, similar 

 to the leaves, but longer. 



Male plants more slender, amentula somewhat inflated, on the 

 upper branches, the bracts resembling the branch leaves. 



Had. — Peat-bogs and stagnant pools. 



N. America. — Newfoundland (La Pylaie) ; Table Rock, S. Carolina (Les- 

 qucieux) ; Willey Mountain, New Hampshire (James) ; A.dirondack Mountvins, New 

 York (Peck) ; New Jersey (Austin). 



Var. )8. sedoides (Brid.), Lindb. 



Synon. — Sph. sedoides, Brid. Bry. Univ. i. p. 750, et var. prostra*inn (1826). 

 SuLL. Muse. Allegh. n. 208 (1845). Sull. Lesq. Muse. Bi^r.-Amer. n. 3 (1856). 

 SuLL. Mosses of Un. St. p. 12, n. 8 (1856), et Ic. Muse. p. 11, t. 6 (1864). Austin, 

 Muse. Appal, n. 24 (1870). 



Stem procumbent at base, ascending, 3-5 in, high, simple or 

 with a few short scattered branches, fragile, flaccid, dull pale green, 

 the upper part vinous red. Leaves large, very densely imbricated, 

 oblong-ovate, concave, obtuse, entire or eroso-denticulate, with a 

 border of two rows of extremely narrow cells ; hyaline cells elon- 

 gated, with annular fibres, and a very few minute pores. Branch 

 leaves similar, but smaller. 



Had. — Peat-bogs. Newfoundland (La Pylaie) ; wet margins of Table Rock, 

 S. Carolina (Gray and Lesquereux) ; Mount Marey, New York (Torrey) j Adirondack 

 Mountains, New York (Peck). 



Sph. Pylaici and its variety have been regarded by most 

 authors as doubtful species, but the form and position of the fruit, 

 and the structure of the leaves and stem are so distinct, that there 

 can be no hesitation in maintaining its right not only to specific 



