16 SPHAGNACE^:. 



times larger, lingulate or broadly oblong with a more or less 

 rounded top and somewhat fringed, but always wider at the base 

 than at the top. Upper cells usually without fibres and pores, 

 sometimes slightly fibrose and more rarely porose. Border, com- 

 posed of linear cells, very wide at the base, gradually narrowing 

 upwards, but still remaining of some width, and reaching to apex. 

 Divergent branches soft, slender. Leaves varying from almost 

 exactly oval to narrowly ovate-lanceolate, truncate and toothed at 

 apex, where the margin is incurved. Hyaline cells large, with 

 large pores. Chlorophyllose cells oval-triangular in section, on 

 the ventral surface of the leaf, scarcely reaching the dorsal face. 

 Male amentula always red. Monoicous or dioicous. 



* Vars. more or less rosy or pink. 



t Branch leaves short, oval, more or less obtuse. 



Var. /3. rubellum Russ. (S. rubellum Wils, Schp. Syn.) 

 Stem leaves large, broad, rather obtuse, usually non-fibrose. 

 Plants short, slender, bright red. Leaves somewhat subsecund. 



Var. y. tenellum Schp. Stem leaves as in var. rubellum. 

 Plants pale red or whitish, very slender. 



Var. S. gracile Russ. Stem leaves almost as in var. 

 rubellum, slightly fibrose above. Plants variegated with green 

 and red. Pores of hyaline cells with a distinct annular 

 border. 



Var. e. elegans Braithw. Stem leaves elongate, oblong- 

 lingulate, abruptly narrowed to an obtuse point, fibrose above. 

 Branches densely set. Plants compactly tufted, rose coloured, 

 often white at the tip of the branches. 



Var. f. purpureum Schp. Stem leaves almost as in var. 

 rubellum, but usually fibrose above. Densely tufted, with the 

 branches closely set. Usually purple throughout. Rather 

 robust. 



Var. >j. quinquefarium Lindb. Stem leaves from a broad 

 base, deltoid-ovate, narrowed to the truncated apex. Branch 

 leaves closely and regularly imbricated, disposed in 5 rows, 

 which are more distinct when dry. 



ft Branch leaves ovate-lanceolate, elongated. 



Var. 6. deflexum Schp. Branches long, rather rigid, 

 closely set, deflexed. Plants green, tinged with red. 



