76 THE SPHAGNACE OR PEAT-MOSSES OF 
Leaves of the divergent branches quinquefarious, imbricated, 
erecto-patent, recurved in their upper half, or subsquarrose, all 
with a border of two rows of very narrow cells; the basal minute 
ovato-lanceolate, the median ovate, elongato-lanceolate, with the 
margin involute, and 3-4 minute teeth at apex, the uppermost 
narrowly lanceolate, scarcely toothed. Hyaline cells with annular 
fibres, the upper with numerous small pores on each side of cell, 
lower lateral with large pores, which become fewer towards 
the middle of leaf. Chlorophyllose cells very slender, com- 
pressed, enclosed by the hyaline in the upper part of leaf, but 
coming to both surfaces in the lower part, oval or rectangular in 
section. 
Perichetia clustered in the capitulum, straw-coloured or pink, 
lower bracts ovate, acuminate, concave, recurved at apex, upper 
elongate oblong, slightly emarginate and somewhat recurved at 
point, convolute, without fibres or pores, often subsecund. 
Capsules but slightly exserted, small, globose, blackish brown. 
Spores pale yellow. 
Male inflorescence purple, at the apex of subclavate branches 
in the coma or upper fascicles ; the antheridia pale green. 
Hazs.—Wet pine-woods; rare. Fr. July. 
Evurope.—Techelfer Woods, near Dorpat, frequent (Girgensohn, 1847); Kaddak 
near Reval, Allentacken, and Appelsee (Russow); Jamni-Les, near Permeskiill 
(Gruner); Berglunda, near Lycksele, and Wilhelmina Kyrka, Lapland (J. Ang- 
strom, 1864) ; Kajana and other places in Finland (Brotherus) ; Medelpad, Stode 
(Seth). 
N. AmeErica.—Belleville, Canada (Macoun, Fowler); near New York (Howe, 
Peck, Austin). 
This beautiful species may be readily known by its clavate 
divergent branches, and the large number of them in each fascicle, 
as well as by the small stem leaves, and the dense globose capitulum; 
in all other points its affinity is clearly with Sp. acutifolium, from 
which, however, it is abundantly distinct. The delicate rose colour 
which sometimes suffuses this plant, adds very much to its elegance. 
Var. B. squarrosulum, Russow. 
Divergent branches longer, their leaves squarrose, with more 
numerous pores. 
Synon.—Russow, Beitr. Torf. p. 68. Scurmp. Synops. ed. 2, p. 839. 
Hap.—South Angermannland (Fristedt) ; birch woods near Ilmazal and Dorpat, 
and at Techelfer and Appelsee (Russow). 
