SPHAGNEI. 307 



In peat-mosses with other species. 



Distinguished from S. acutifolium by its smaller size, ob- 

 tuse elliptic leaves, dioicous inflorescence, and deep-red peri- 



gonia. 



** Leaves acuminate. 



5. S. acutifolium, Ehr. ; branches slender, attenuated, 

 spreading; stem-leaves ovate, erect; branch-leaves ovato- 

 lanceolate, tapering, eroded, erecto-patent ; sporangium on a 

 long stalk.— Hook. $ Wils. t. iv. ; Eng. Bot. t. 1406. ; (Plate 

 2, fig. 4) ; Moug. # Nest. n. 11. 



In swamps. Bearing fruit in summer. 



Monoicous. Leaves often lilac ; stalk of sporangium very 

 long ; spores ferruginous. 



A very variable species, from a few inches to a foot in 

 length. Male flowers purple, perichsetial leaves thin, convo- 

 lute, without pores or fibres, acute. 



6. S. fimbriatum, Wils. ; stem much elongated ; branches 

 very slender, pendulous ; stem-leaves large, close-pressed, ob- 

 ovate, laciniate; branch-leaves ovato-lanceolate ; perichaetial 

 leaves large, obovate, obtuse; sporangium on a short stalk. — 

 Hook. $• Wils. t. lx. 



In swamps. Bearing fruit abundantly in summer. 

 Monoicous. Leaves never red ; stem-leaves without pores 

 and fibres ; perichaetial leaves solid. 



7. S. cuspidatum, Ehr. ; stem elongated ; branches fasci- 

 culate, attenuated, some deflexed, closely adpressed; stem- 

 leaves ovate, acute, spreading ; branch-leaves lanceolate, taper- 

 ing ; margin undulated when dry. — Hook. §• Wils. t. lxi. ; 

 Eng. Bot. t. 2092. ; {Moug. % Nest. n. 405, 1306.) 



In deep peat-mosses. 



Distinguished from the two last by its longer, more loosely 

 imbricated leaves, which are undulated when dry, changing 



x 2 



