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SPHAGNUM FAXONII ; AN ADDITION TO THE FLORA OF 
NEW ENGLAND. 
Carl Warnstorf. 
We give this article from the well known authority on Sphagna by per- 
mission of the Editors of, Rhodora, and follow it with one from H. H. 
Bartlett on the Type Locality. The first article is from Rhodora, March, 
1908, and the second from Rhodora, June, 1908. A number of our students 
are devoting time to the Sphagna so that notes on the subject will be in 
order. Editor. 
Since my friend the late Edwin Faxon was one of the original members 
of the New England Botanical Club, it seems fitting that the Sphagnum 
which I have recently named in his memory should be brought to the atten- 
tion of his old associates by publishing in Rhodora a translation of the 
original description.* I wish to say, by way of preface, that Mr. Faxon, an 
indomitable - collector of Sphagna, sent me for investigation during the 
nineties thousands of specimens from New England, all prepared with the 
most pains-taking care. To many others than myself “ Sphagna Boreali- 
Americani Exsiccata,” an extremely noteworthy collection of one hundred 
seventy-two representative specimens of American peat mosses issued 
by Faxon in collaboration with Professor D. C. Eaton, stands as testimonial 
to his persevering and accurate work as a collector. Faxon was preemi- 
nently lovable, unselfish and modest, — such a man as I have but seldom come 
in contact with during my life. He translated my “Contributions to the 
Knowledge of the North American Sphagna” for publication in the Botani- 
cal Gazette, f but although I urged him to do so, he did not associate his own 
name with the articles. I hope that in describing the following moss I have 
permanently connected the name of this truly exceptional man with his 
favorite genus. 
Sphagnum Faxonii Warnst. Forming closely compacted tufts as much 
as 12 cm. deep, below grayish brown, above pale yellowish, in habit similar to 
a weak Sph. cuspidatum var. plumosum. Cortex of two or three layers of 
cells, plainly differentiated from the strong, pale or yellowish woody axis. 
Prosenchvma cells widened and thick-walled. Stem leaves (both dry and 
moist) spreading, isosceles-triangular or in part almost triangular-linguiform, 
0.75-1.00 mm. long and 0.50-0.60 mm. broad, at the narrow truncate apex 
minutely denticulate, otherwise entire, with broad margins which are greatly 
expanded below the middle. Hyaline cells either not at all or only occasion- 
ally septate, fibrillose in the upper third or even to the middle of the leaf, on 
the inner surface mostly with a few unringed pores between the fibrils, on 
the outer surface, toward the apex, with a few small corner-pores. Fascicles 
moderately crowded, generally three- but occasionally four-branched. 
Branches almost equally strong and spreading, up to 12 mm. in length, 
* Neue europSische und aussereuropaische Torfmoose. Hedwigia XLVII, p. 117, 
,(1908). 
+ Bot. Gaz. XV, pp. 127—140, 189-198, 217—127, 242—255 (1890). 
