86 THE SPHAGNACEZ OR PEAT-MOSSES OF 
Stem leaves numerous, resembling the branch leaves, erect, 
ovate-oblong, concave, rounded and minutely erose at apex, the 
hyaline cells fibrillose. 
Branches solitary, or 2-3 in a fascicle at the lower part of stem, 
short, terete, obtuse, arcuato-decurved, the cuticular cells small, 
the retort cells few, narrowly cylindric, not recurved at apex. 
Branch leaves laxly imbricated, very small, ovate, obtuse, the 
margin incurved in the upper third, entire at apex; hyaline cells 
with strong annular fibres, and without pores, in section circular, 
separated both in front and back by the chlorophyllose cells, which 
are very thick and oval or obtusely trigonous in section. 
Capsules immersed on shorter lateral branches on the upper 
third of stem, small, globose; perichztial bracts rather lax, similar 
to the leaves, but longer. 
Male plants more slender, amentula somewhat inflated, on the 
upper branches, the bracts resembling the branch leaves. 
Has.—Peat-bogs and stagnant pools. 
N. America.—Newfoundland (La Pylaie); Table Rock, S. Carolina (Les- 
quereux) ; Willey Mountain, New Hampshire (James) ; Adirondack Mountains, New 
York (Peck) ; New Jersey (Austin). 
Var. B. sedoides (Briv.), LInps. 
Synon.— Sph. sedoides, Brip. Bry. Univ. i. p. 750, et var. prostratum (1826). 
SuLL. Musc. Allegh. n, 208 (1845). Surz. Lesq. Musc. Bor.-Amer. n. 3 (1856). 
SuL. Mosses of Un. St. p. 12, n. 8 (1856), et Ic. Musc. p. 11, t.6 (1864). AUSTIN, 
Musc. Appal. n. 24 (1870). 
Stem procumbent at base, ascending, 3-5 in. high, simple or 
with a few short scattered branches, fragile, flaccid, dull pale green, 
the upper part vinous red. Leaves large, very densely imbricated, 
oblong-ovate, concave, obtuse, entire or eroso-denticulate, with a 
border of two rows of extremely narrow cells; hyaline cells elon- 
gated, with annular fibres, and a very few minute pores. Branch 
leaves similar, but smaller. 
Has.—Peat-bogs. Newfoundland (La Pylaie); wet margins of Table Rock, 
S. Carolina (Gray and Lesquereux) ; Mount Marey, New York (Torrey) ; Adirondack 
Mountains, New York (Peck). 
Sph. Pylaie and its variety have been regarded by most 
authors as doubtful species, but the form and position of the fruit, 
and the structure of the leaves and stem are so distinct, that there 
can be no hesitation in maintaining its right not only to specific 
