ZOOLOGY AXD BOTAXT, illCEOSCOPT, ETC. 773 



The lower leaves were in form like those of Leptotridaim. vritii 

 the nerve occtipying one-third of the width of the base ; but the 

 npper leaves, and especially the perichfetial, had a mnch narrower 

 nerve, disappearing completely in the minute leaf, and the snbiilated 

 portion passing gxadually into the vaginal. 



The areolation of the leaves was, in the lower ones, like that in 

 L. suhulatum ; in the perichaetial it was, on the conti-ai'v, like that in 

 P. suhulatum. 



M. Yentnri considers the fact of this hybridation between two 

 genera placed in two different classes a very important argument for 

 finally abandoning the entii'ely artilicial and in no way natui'al 

 classification of the Musci cleistocarpi, and for placing the genera of 

 this class in divisions foixnded on theii' anatomical characters. 



European Sphagnacesej — In his recent work on the Eui'opean 

 bog-mosses, C. "VTarnstoff proposes a somewhat different system of 

 classification from those hitherto adopted. Believing that no single 

 character can be safely used, even when constant, he lays less sti'ess 

 than has hitherto been done on the peculiarities of the inflorescence, 

 and draws his chief distinguishing marks fi'om various characters, the 

 form of the stem-leaves, the number of the cortical layers of the 

 stem, the presence or absence of fibres or pores in the stem-leaves, 

 kc. From these characters he di'aws up the following scheme of the 

 European species : — 



A. No spiral fibres in the cortex of the branches ; branch-leaves 

 always distinctly toothed at the apex. 

 a. Stem-leaves always broadest at the base ; more or less dis- 

 tinctly narrowed at the apex, 

 a. Margin of the branch-leaves revolute at the apex only. 



1. Cortex of 3-4 layers ; cells moderately large. 



* Tuft of branches united into 3-5 branchlets. 



S. acutifolium Ehr. 

 ** Tuft of branches united into 7-13 branchlets. 

 S, Wulnanum Gii'g. 



2. Cortex of 1-2 layers ; cells very nai'row. S. variahile 

 Warnst. 



/S. Margin of the branch-leaves broader, often revolute to the 

 base. 



1. Stem-leaves small or large, always almost tongue- 



shaped. 



* Stem-leaves with a narrow border ; border not much 



broader below. >S'. cavifolium "Warnst. 

 ** Stem-leaves with a wide border : border much 

 broader below. S. rnoUuscurn Bruch. 



2. Stem-leaves always very small, triangular, rounded at 



the apex, or broadly fi-inged. S. rigidum Schpr. 

 h. Stem-leaves always broadest at the middle, nai-rower at the 

 base and apes. S. molle Sulliv. 



t 'Die Europiiische Torfmoose.' von C. Wamstoff (Berlin, ISSl). See Flora, 

 Ixiv. (1S81) p. 284. 



