EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA. 65 
Ramuli 3-4 in a fascicle, of which 2-3 are arcuato-divergent, 
flagelliform, the others deflexed, filiform, appressed to stem; retort 
cells elongated, perforated, scarcely recurved. Ramuline leaves 
erecto-patent, ovato-lanceolate and lanceolate, bidentate and 
sometimes recurved at apex; hyaline cells with annular and spiral 
fibres and numerous large pores ; chlorophyllose cells trigono-com- 
pressed, nearest the upper surface of leaf. 
Capsules in the capitulum or upper fascicles, bracts pale green, 
the lower ovato-acuminate, upper obovate-oblong, convolute, 
obtusely pointed, rather densely areolate, without fibres or pores. 
Male plants resembling the female, amentula numerous, 
elongated, thickish, clavate, ochraceous or brown, the antheridia 
confined to the terminal portion ; bracts broadly ovate, acuminate. 
Hasz.—Shallow bogs on subalpine heaths. Fr. July. 
Evropr.—Scandinavia and North Germany, frequent; Black Forest, Thuringia, 
Styria, and the Alps; Weissenburg, in the Jura, and near Eichstatt; Bohemia, at 
Iserwiese and Elbwiese (Milde). Scotland: Ben Ledi (Dr. Stitton), Ben Lawers, 
Killin, Stroneuch Rocks in Glen Lyon, Banchory, and Clova (Hunt), near Loch 
Maree (Boswell). Hngland: Skegglesmere and Dent, Yorkshire (Barnes). 
N. America.—Northern New Jersey to Canada. 
This species stands intermediate between Sh. acutifolium and 
Sph. fimbriatum, and has, no doubt, been mistaken for both; it is a 
stouter plant than Sph. fimbriatum, with shorter and thicker 
branches, and the male plant is conspicuous by its clavate in- 
florescence ; the form of the stem leaf is, however, the distinctive 
character by which they may always be separated ; this is truncate 
and fringed only at the apex in SPA. strictum, but in Sph. fim- 
briatum it is rounded and the fringe runs half-way down the 
lateral margin. 
From Sh. acutifolium in its ordinary state it is also readily 
known by never having the slightest tinge of red, but a form of 
that species occurs with the apex of the stem leaves more or less 
lacerate-toothed ; here the numerous purple male amentula which 
are generally present suffice to indicate its true place; it was, 
however, issued in the Sphag. Brit. Exsic. as Sph. strictum, under 
426, and appears worthy to rank as a separate variety, which 
may be named subjimbriatum. 
The fruit is very rare, and for the specimens figured I am in- 
debted to the kindness of my friend Professor Lindberg; Russow 
states that he has it richly fruiting from Isl. Sagchalin, in Japan, 
F 
