IO THE SPHAGNACEZ OR PEAT-MOSSES OF 
In following Professor Schimper in the separation of the 
Sphagning as a sub-class from the Bryine or true frondose 
mosses, I can simply record my conviction that this is by far the 
most satisfactory mode of dealing with them, since they possess 
in their structure various peculiarities, which are not shared in 
by other mosses. It is to be regretted that this great bryologist 
has changed his views on this point, for in the second edition of 
his Synopsis he brings together the Archidiacee, Andreaeacee, 
and Sthagnacee, as Bryine anomale, without supplying any 
character for the same, though it is clear that the only common 
bond of union is the large saccate calyptra, tearing open irre- 
gularly, and they thus correspond to Hampe’s section Saccomztria. 
The sub-class Sphagnine may be defined as follows :— 
“Plants densely aggregated, without roots except in the young 
state. Stem with the axile cells soft, becoming indurated at the 
surface, clothed with a cuticle of one or several layers of large 
lax cells. Leaves nerveless, of a single stratum of dimorphous 
cells, the small utricular ones conveying sap and chlorophyl, 
enclosing the large, empty hyaline ones, which generally contain 
spiral fibres and have their walls perforated by large or small 
foramina. Inflorescence: axillar, the male amentiform, antheridia 
globose, with very fine, branched paraphyses. Capsule globose, 
sessile on the apex of an elongated vaginula; calyptra saccate. 
Branches in lateral fascicles, aggregated at summit into a dense 
coma.” This will comprise only a single family and a single 
genus—Sphagnuum. 
In no genus of frondose mosses do the branches occur in 
lateral fascicles springing from one point; nor do we find in any 
the peculiar dimorphous areolation of the leaves; the nearest to 
them in this respect as well as in external appearance is the 
family of Lewcodxyacee, but in their true structure they are totally 
different, and they equally stand apart by their antheridia and 
extraordinary paraphyses, and the loose cuticle investing their 
trunks. 
As to the economic uses of the Sphagnacee, they are but small, 
except as a source of easily procured fuel; and in this respect 
indeed they are of immense importance, for no substitute could 
be found in the thinly populated and barren districts of the north, 
where trees become an insignificant object in the scenery, or cease 
to grow at all; yet nature, by the very means which produce 
