THE BRYOLOGIST. 



Vol. VI. November, 1903. No. 6. 



THE SPLACHNUMS. 



Elizabeth G. Britton. 



The taller specimens of Splachnuin luteitni, illustrated in the plate 

 accompanying this number, were collected by Mr. M. W. Gorman at White 

 River, Yukon Territory, near the Alaska Boundary. The specimens are 

 remarkable not only for their large size, which exceeds any measurements 

 recorded, but also for the fact that very few of the capsules had developed 

 the characteristic apophysis or "yellow umbrellas" which are shown in the 

 smaller specimens. But it was these "umbrellas" that attracted Mr. Gor- 

 man's attention, for he says, " I noticed a moss in open spots on the borders 

 of Sphagnum marshes, that I had not observed in Oregon, Washington or 

 southern Alaska. The tall delicate stems had many of their tips sur- 

 rounded by a pale yellow cap about five-sixteenths inches wide, causing the 

 moss to be noticeable amongst the surrounding grasses, sedges and erica- 

 ceous plants. I would like an explanation of the yellow caps, some of which 

 may still be seen on the specimen, although it has been twice immersed in 

 the icy waters of the White River." 



Their absence may be due to immersion in cold water, but it is evident 

 that although they were collected on August 14th, they had not fully devel- 

 oped and grew taller from being among shrubs and grasses. It generally 

 happens with most mosses that grow in crowded tufts, that some of the 

 plants do not get their share of nourishment and room, and hence do not 

 attain the size and development that others do. This may be seen in 

 Funaria hygrometrica particularly. In endeavoring to learn something 

 about the anomalous specimens of Splachnmn, the researches made by J. R. 

 Vaizey on this species, published in the Annals of Botany for i8go, will be of 

 interest. In this paper he states that being convinced of the importance of 

 obtaining further knowledge of the highest development to which the sporo- 

 phyte of the mosses attains, as being likely to throw light indirectly on the 

 phylogeny of the higher Cryptogams and Phanerogams, he determined to 

 investigate the morphology of Splach7ium luteujn and S. rubruni. These 

 species being arctic or subarctic, and not found in Great Britain, he made a 

 journey to Norway for his material. He did not succeed in getting much of 

 the Red Umbrella Moss, but of the yellow he secured abundant specimens. 

 He says of these : 



" In the sporophyte of 5. luteum we have a structure with a remarkable 

 similarity to an umbrella, the handle end, which is inserted in the tissues of 

 the oophyte, is known as the foot. The seta is much elongated, frequently 

 attaining the length of 150 meters (6 inches); it bears the umbrella-like 

 expansion, the apophysis, at the top just below the sporangium. It is ttie 

 structure of the apophysis which is of greatest interest." Mr. Vaizey found 



The September Bryologist was issued September ist, 1903. 



