THE SPHAGNUMS (SPHAGNALES) 423 
the lack of drainage, organic acids accumulate and prevent the 
action of Molds and Bacteria, the dead remains of Sphagnum and 
accompanying plants do not decay, but are finally transformed 
into peat, which is a valuable 
fuel in some countries, espe- 
cially in Ireland. 
Both antheridia and arch- 
egonia are stalked and are 
produced on branches. The 
sex organs differ from those of 
the Bryales in their develop- 
ment but are quite similar in 
appearance when mature. 
The sporophyte differs from 
the sporophyte of the Bryales 
in having only a very sbort 
seta, which is only a neck be- 
tween the foot and the capsule. 
In connection with this fea- 
ture there occurs another 
characteristic feature known 
as the pseudopodium. The 
_ odium, which replaces Fic. 377.— The gametophyte and 
pseudop 4 E sphorophyte of Sphagnium. At the 
the seta in function, iS formed left, gametophyte of Sphagnium; at 
by the elongation of the axis the right, a sporophyte and the pseudo- 
of the gametophore just be- podium; between, a vertical section 
neath the sporophyte, which through the sporophyte, showing the 
is thereby carried up as if it short rounded foot, the short neck-like 
1 ‘ seta, and the globular sporangium in 
were on an e ongating seta. which the spores are borne in a cavity 
Another peculiar feature of forming an arch over the columella. 
the sporophyte is that the 
columella does not extend entirely to the top of the spor- 
angium as in Bryales, but the sporogenous tissue arches over 
the columella. In this respect the sporophyte is like that of 
Anthoceros. 
When the spores germinate, instead of producing a filamentous 
protonema, they produce a flat thallus that resembles a Liver- 
wort, and from buds on this thallus the leafy gametophores arise. 
When studied in detail one finds that Sphagnum has a number 
of features characteristic of Liverworts and a number that are 
