128 



The Natuealist. 



graph " the disposition of the cells here referred to. On page 43 he 

 says : — " The small cells are situated more in the middle, and the 

 formation of the large cells is found niore or less on both sides ; yet 

 these never extend over so great a surface as with SpJmguum squarro- 

 sum and rigidum, where the large cells, as it were, press together on 

 both sides, and so grow with their side layers that the coloured 

 cells are on all sides completely enclosed," &c. Now, C. MuUer, in 

 " Deutschlands Moose," p. 123, fig. 8, figures a cross- section of a 

 branch leaf of Sphagnum cymbifolium^ whose chlorophyllose cells are 

 entirely enclosed by the hyaline ones ; and Warnstorf maintains 

 the same. I.e. p. 123-138 and 141, also of S. cymhifgliuin (his var. 

 vulgar e), and of S. papillosum. These contradictory statements require 

 to be rectified, since I am able to confirm Schimper's observation with 

 regard to the normal form of S. cymbifol'mm in all its modifications. 



Only with S. cywhifolium var. congestum, Sch. et var. purpurascens 

 Euss. Milde (Rab. Bryoth. No. 722, cymbif. var. congt^stum, Sch.) 

 are the chlorophyllose cells, which here are very small, quite enclosed 

 on both sides by the hyaline ones, as with S. rigidum. This character 

 being constant, I do not hesitate to state that this plant deserves to 

 rank as a species equally with S. ^ustini and S. papillosum. Besides, 

 it possesses a very thick stem-bark, consisting of four and five layers 

 whose peripheral layer consists of many smaller cells, and the very 

 large stem leaves shew in the upper half always, spiral threads and 

 pores, whilst the spiral threads in the stem-bark are almost wanting. 

 But above everything is this species distinguished by a reddish tinge 

 and a peculiar habit, so that it was joined, even by the old bryologists, 

 as a distinct form, sometimes with S. rigidum and sometimes with 

 S. cymbifolium. Bridel brought it to his S. compactum ; Schimper 

 distinguished it as S. cymbifolium var. congestum ; in the herbarium of 

 the Silesian Society there are specimens from Sendtner, as S. palustre, 

 var. medium, Sendt. ; Russow, Milde, and others distinguished it as 

 S. cymbifolium var. purpurascens. To this belongs also, according to 

 the station cited Jeziorki, the new var. purpura&cens, Warnst. I.e., 

 p. 136. 



Since neither the name congestum nor that of purpurascens fully 

 denotes the character of the new species, and can only lead to mis- 

 understanding, I therefore choose the indifi'erent name of Sendtner — 

 S. medium, n. sp., which has the preference by being the oldest 

 (although, to my knowledge, not made known), and by which we 

 can remember the characteristic disposition of the chlorophyllose cells. 



In S, papillosum, Lindb., the chlorophyllose cells of the branch 



