SPHAGNUM. ig 



In the description I have compared it with 5. fimbriatum, because from the colour it 

 is more likely to be confounded with that species, to which indeed, on the opposite 

 side, it is very closely related. 



From all other species the broad border of the stem leaves taken in conjunction 

 with the numerous large pores of the branch leaves will at once distinguish it. 



9. Sphagnum fimbriatum Wils. (Tab. VII. G.). 



Loosely tufted ; pale green or whitish brown ; tall and 

 slender, 6-14 inches high. Stem pale, cuticular cells in 2 

 or 1 3 layers, porose. Stem leaves very broadly obovate- 

 spathulate, almost as broad as long, wider above, rounded and 

 slightly flattened at summit, the whole of which, together with 

 the upper portion of the sides, is fringed as with delicate cilia by 

 the thread-like partitions of the eroded cells. Areolation 

 very wide at summit, narrowing downwards, without fibres or pores 

 but with partitions across many of the cells. Cells at basal 

 angles extremely narrow, forming a border or column on each 

 side extending to about § the width of the leaf, the median basal 

 cells between the borders being much wider. Branches 3-4 

 together, very long and slender, two arcuate and decurved, the 

 others pendent and appressed to stem. Branch leaves closely 

 imbricated, lower ovate-lanceolate, upper lanceolate, gradually 

 narrowed from below the middle to the acute apex, which is 

 slightly truncated and toothed ; margin incurved above. Hyaline 

 cells of medium size, with many large pores. Chlorophyllose cejls 

 in section compressed, elliptical or slightly cuneiform, emergent 

 on the upper surface of the leaf, usually slightly enclosed by the 

 hyaline on the back. Perichaetial bracts large, obtuse. Male 

 amentula yellowish, fusiform. 



Hab. Bogs and marshes, frequent ; usually abundantly fertile. 



Sphagnum fimbriatum is one of the least variable, members of the genus ; in 

 colour it is always of a pale green or yellowish brown, without tinge of red ; this will 

 serve to distinguish it from all forms of 5. acutifolium except the very few which are 

 entirely green, and from these the stem leaves serve essentially to separate it, as indeed 

 they do from all other species, the only approach to it in this respect being in the case 

 of S. Girgensohnii, S. Lindbergii and some forms of S. teres ; from the last the broadly 

 bordered stem leaves will, as mentioned under that species, clearly distinguish it, as 

 will the rounded summit of the stem leaves and the numerous large pores in the branch 

 leaves from S. Lindbergii. The characters by which it may be known from 6 1 . 

 Girgensohnii are pointed out under that plant. 



The leaves of S. fimbriatum are occasionally distinctly squarrose, in which case 

 the resemblance to some forms of S. teres is very striking ; they are however decidedly 

 narrower than the leaves of that species. 



The transverse partitions of the cells of the stem leaves are much more numerous 

 and distinct in S. fimbriatum than in other species in which they occur. 



