70 THE SPHAGNACE OR PEAT-MOSSES OF 
Silesia, Thuringia, Prussia, Salzburg, Holland. England : Frequent in Lancashire, 
Yorkshire, and Westmoreland ; found also in other counties and in Scotland and 
Treland. 
N. America.—Has been found occasionally. 
After the examination of many specimens from Wilson himself, 
and from all parts of the kingdom, I feel compelled reluctantly to 
follow Russow in reducing Sph. rudellum to one of the long 
chain of varieties which constitute the polymorphous SP/. acuti- 
folium. 
We may briefly consider the various points of distinction referred 
to by Wilson and Schimper. 
1. The small size and delicacy of the plants.—This condition 
is only relative, as specimens of vudellum 6 inches high 
are not unfrequent, while other varieties of acutz/olium are 
found of even smaller size than ordinary vrudbellum. 
2. The dioicous inflorescence.—This is the strongest point for 
the specific character of SAL. rudellum, but other varieties 
of acutifolium are also dioicous, nay, I believe at times 
its typical form is so. 
3. The larger non-fibrose stem leaves.—A reference to the 
plates will suffice to show that stem leaves of rudbellum 
are not larger than those of typical acutzfolium ; and again 
in vubellum, threads are frequently present, and sometimes 
they are quite wanting in the cells of the stem leaves of 
acutifolium. 
4. The broader elliptical branch leaves—The lowest leaves of 
the divergent branches are very broad and obtuse, and 
those from the middle moderately so; in no case have I seen 
them truly elliptical, and often on the same plant others 
will be found moderately pointed, while other varieties, 
e.g. tenue, arctum, fuscum, &c., have them quite as 
obtuse, neither is their subsecund direction constant. 
Sufficient, I think, has therefore been advanced to show that 
Sph. rubellum possesses no character of sufficient weight to entitle it 
to specific distinction ; the upper branches are usually twisted, but 
this is by no means constant, and occasionally we find specimens 
with very little admixture of red, being either dull green or a pale 
brown with only the comal branches purple, and for this form I 
have used the name améiguum. 
