— 88 — 



angular stem-leaves as a new analogous variety parvulum under S. recurvum. 

 This procedure is, I think, indicative enough not only of the specific worthless- 

 ness of -5. parvifolium, but also of that of S. amhlyphyllum as distinct from S, 

 recurvum. 



This form with non-undulate* leaves is more characteristic of the southern 

 and inland range of the species, while the small-leaved form with undulate leaves 

 is frequent in the far north. It is possible that the Greenland specimens all 

 belong to the latter and that I should not have included Greenland in the range 

 of the variety tenue. Neither form appears south of the limits of glaciation, 

 the var. tenue, as I have defined it, finding its southern limits in the states Penn- 

 sylvania, Michigan, Minnesota. Nebraska, Montana, Idaho, Washington, so 

 far as known at present. 



17. Sphagnum pulchrum (Lindberg) Warnstorf, 1900. The variety pulchrum 

 of 5. recurvum (5. intermedium) was accredited by Braithwaite^^ to Lindberg, 

 and as a form stands out so clearly that it has not been subject to much mis- 

 understanding, though one may in some cases be in doubt as to whether a certain 

 specimen should be placed with it or with the parent species. It is usually a 

 robust plant, tends to a fairly pronounced brown pigmentation, the branch- 

 leaves are decidedly broader in proportion to their length with rather less con- 

 spicuous undulations, they may be arranged quite clearly in five ranks, the se- 

 parate leaves appear shortly apiculate from the fact that they are so strongly 

 involute at the immediate apex. In section they show chlorophyll cells whose 

 apex does not reach the ventral surface of the leaf. The stem-leaves are re- 

 gularly of stout structure with the same tendency to a short involute apiculus. 

 The stem in section shows cortical cells much more clearly set off than in 5. 

 recurvum, though they are not over large and have fairly substantial walls; the 

 stems are accordingly generally brown and brittle as compared with those of 

 the parent species. Fruit is extremely rare. The species shows considerable 

 variation as it grows in or out of the water or under other different conditions,, 

 but is fairly clearly recognizable through its varied forms. Its occurrence falls 

 entirely within the limits of S. recurvum, but is much more restricted. With 

 us it is known only in the coastal region from Labrador to New Jersey. In the 

 latter state I should say from my observations in Ocean County that it is in that 

 portion of the state the commonest species of Sphagnum. In Nova Scotia it 

 seems to be also well represented. Its European range is northwestern, from 

 Finland to the British Isles, and confined to regions essentially coastal. In 

 Asia it has not been found and very likely does not occur, as it is also lacking 

 in interior and western North America. 



18. Sphagnum balticum Russow, 1890. This form had been distinguished 

 by Russow with a varietal name molUssimum as early as 1865. Though called 

 by Russow in 1890 a subspecies, it was in the same year published by Jensen as 

 a full-fledged species^^ ascribed to Russow as author. It is a soft compact-grow- 



IS Sphagnaceae, 81. 1880. 



17 Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Torf moose, 61. 



18 De danske Sphagnum-Arter, 100. 



