those which are interposed betiveen the larger utricles, and which form the network of the leaf. This is well explained
by the canliue leaves of Sphagumi finériatim (Wils. MSS.), a very curious British and Antarctic species, long
confounded with S. acutifolium ; in them the spirally lined cells are altogether absent. Siiirally lined cells communicate
with each other by pores, as we have ourselves witnessed the passage of animalcules (vibrio) from one
cell into another.
1. SpHAGNtiM cymbifolmm, D ill ; caule elongato, ramis crâssis, foliis imbricatis patentibus ovatis
obtusis concavis superne denticulatis cellulis ramulorum spiriJiter lineatis. S. cymbifolium, Nees et Ilonisch.
Bryol. Germ. vol. i. p. 6. 1 .1. f. 1. S. obtusifolium, Ilo o l. et Tayl. Muse. B r it, ed, 2. p. 13. t. 4 (ex parte).
, Uax.2. condensatmn. Hook. fil. et W'ils.; caule liumili, ramulis brevissimis undique dense confertis.
S. condensatum, B r id . Bryol. Univ. vol.i. p. 18 (?).
H a b . Falkland Islan ds; common in streams, bogs, aud peat-ponds. Var. 2. Strait of Magalliaens,
Port Pamine, Caffi. King.
In general aspect exceedingly like the more compact form of 8. compactum, Bridel, but preseiwing the true
cliaracter of the species to which we refer it, in the shape of the leaves, aud iu the markings of the ramnline cellules,
Onr specimens are aU fertile, the stems not two inches in length. An example occui-s where two capsules are
produced upon the same pseudopodium.
Mr. Valentine was the fu-st to point out (in the ‘ Muscologia Nottinghamensis’) the stnicture of the cells of
the ramuli, which, from oft-repeated observation, we consider a valid specific character, distinguishing this species
from all others. On the other hand, the characters derived from the length ofthe peduncle and the disposition of
the branches appear to be fallacions.
2. Sph .agxdm/ a i r i a f ! » , Wils. MSS. ; eaule longiusculo gracili subramoso, foliis dimorphis, caulinis
obovato-subrotundis obtnsissimis fimbriatis, rameis ovato-lanceolatis acuminatis concavis acutis, perichætialibus
obovatis obtusis valde concards, theca brevi-peduuculata.
H a b , Hermite Island, Cape Horn, and the Falkland Islands,
Oaulk pleimmque gracilis. Band 3-nati subinde 4-o-nati, longinscnli, apice atteiuKiti. Folia caulina erecta,
subrotunda, obtusissima, fimbriata !, cellidis propriis (chlorophyllo farctis) reticulum formantibus, interstitiis
(e defectu utriculonim liuea spiral! notatorum) vacuis, folia ramorum conferta, erecto-patentia, apice subrecurva
coucava, acuta, perichætialia subcucnUata, subretusa, obtusissima, concava, thecam immaturam arcte amplectentia.
Theca matnra globosa, pedicello breviusculo exserto.
From Sphagnum acutifolium, Elirln, this species may be readily known by its more slender habit, and is essentially
distinguished hy the pecuhar cauhne leaves, which consist of an open net-work of parenchymatous cells without ■
any intermediate ones lined with spiral filaments; the perichætial leaves are also very different in shape, and those
of the branches are more acute, their reticulation also is, especially at the summit, considerably smaller.
The specimens here described are not so slender as others gathered in Britain ; but possess all their essential
characters ; the S. acutifolia of Montagne (Voy, au Pole Sud, Bot. Crypt, p. 282) is probably the same plant.
3. S ph a g n um ev.spidatum, Ehrli.; ramulis atteuuatis laxis, foliis lanceolato-subulatis laxis patulis siccitate
undulatis marginibus rcfle.xis perichætialibus acutis. S. cuspidatum, Nees et Uornseh. B ryo l Germ
vol. i. p. 13. t. 4. f. 9. Ilo o l. et Tayl. Muse. B r it. p. 15. t. iv.
H a b . Hermite Island, Cape Horn, and tlie Falkland Islands; common.
Neither this, nor any of the other southern Sphagna, are so universal in the Antarctic bogs as they arc in tlic
European and Ai'ctic.
3. SCIITSTIDIUM, Bridel.
Stoma nudum. Calyptra mitræformis s, campanulato-conica, in lacinias plures subæquales basi fissa, rarius
integra. Tkeca æqualis, exapophysata.
1. ScHisTiDiUM Hook. fil. et Wils.; caule erecto, foliis erecto-patentibus lanceolatis subapiculatis
marginatis solidi-nerviis subdenticulatis, theca immersa subrotunda, operculo conico-rostrato erecto.
(T a b . c l i . fig. V I ) .
H a b . Kerguelen’s L a u d ; uot uncommon on moist banks, alt. 500 feet, forming large patches on wet
rocks, and on the debris of precipices.
Caules erecti, vix ramosi, 4 hn. longi, cæspitosi, pahide rubri, succulenti. Folia imbricata, erecto-patentia,
siccitate paulo tortilia, lanceolato-oblonga, subundulata, inferiora spatlmlato-hngulata, nervo vahdo rufo subexcurrente
instructa, rufo-viridia, areolis subquadratis, mimxii?, ; pericltcetialia’^axxlo longiora, angustiora, erecta. 8"^/® theca
brevior, erecta, fusco-lutea. Tkeca ovato-cyatbiformis, badia, basi rotundata, ore aperto. Anmdus persistens,
inconspicuus. Operculum conico-subulatum, capsula paulo longius. Calyptra campanulata, apice rufo-bnmnea,
basi pallida, membranacea, demum lacera. Sporæ minimæ, lutescentes. Species dioica ?
Very distinct from all otlier described species.
P l a t e CLI. Fig. VI.—1, a tuft of the natm*al size ; 2 and 3, leaves ; 4, theca ; 5, calyptra :—magnified.
4. GYMNOSTOJIUM, Redw.
Stoma nudum, Calyptra cucuhiformis vel ventricoso-subulata, latere fissa. Theca æqualis, exannulata.
1. G ymnostomum Heimii, Hedwig; foliis patentibus oblongo-lanceolatis subconcavis apice denticulatis
nervo subcontinuo, theca truncato-obovata et oblonga, operculo oblique rostellato coluinehæ insidente.
G. Heimii, Hedwig, Stirp. Ciypt. vol. i. p. 84. t. 30. Hooh. et Tayl. Muse. B r it. p. 22. t. vii. Pottia Heimii,
Bruch et Schimpter, Bryol. Buropoea.^
Var. 1, foliis angustis apice vix serrulatis.
Var. 2, foliis subovato-acuminatis margine pehucidioribus, theca turbinata brevi.
Var. 3, foliis latioribus obovatis concavis.
H a b . Ealkland Islands, var. I and var. 3 (imperfect) perhaps a distinct species, found near the sea, in
sandy places. Hermite Island, Cape Horn ; var. I , on maritime rocks ; var. 2, on sandy banks.
Subgeniis P hyscomitrium, Bridel.
2. Gym n o stom um (PhyscoDiitrium) laxum, Hook.fil e tW ils .; cæspitosum, caule simpliciusculo, foliis
erecto-patentibus laxe imbricatis eUiptico-lanceolatis acutis concaviusculis integerrimis reticulatis siccitate
vix crispatis, nervo sub apice evanido. (T a b . CLI. fig. V.)
* For the sake of brevity, we omit iu this work the generic chstiuctious proj)osed by Bruch and Schimper in
the ‘ Bryologia Europæa’, without, however, intending to question their validity iu a natural system. Fotiia comprises
those terrestrial species of Gymnostomum, exclusive of Physcomifriuni, which are of bi-trienuial duration and have
monoicous inflorescence .