Finland specimens, however, distinctly show the transition between
it and the var. platyphyllum, while the structure o f the stem and
leaves agrees perfectly with that o f the other forms, and thus confirms
the accuracy o f Professor Lindberg’s diagnosis. Milde’s
plant is doubtfully referred here by Lindberg, and it is ve ry desirable
that original specimens should be examined, as Mr. Boswell sends
me a form o f Sph. subsecundum, which is almost equally free from
branches ; this may possibly be a seedling condition, growing with
closely aggregated stems, and identical with Milde’s specimen.
7. Sphagnum subsecundum, N e e s , v. L s en b .
Pl. IX. AND X.
Dioicous, dull green, olivaceous or rufescent ; the stem dark
brown, with a single layer o f cuticular cells. Stem leaves small,
broadly ovate, ve ry minutely fimbriate at apex. Branch leaves
more or less subsecund, broadly acuminato-elliptic, 3-5 toothed at
apex ; hyaline cells ve ry small, with numerous minute pores at
margins; chlorophyllose cells central, enclosed by the hyaline,
compressed. Perichætial bracts oblong, acutely pointed.
%'csosi.— Sph. subsecundum, N e e s , in St u r m ’s Deutschl. FI. Crypt, fasc. 17 (1819).
F u n c k , Moos-Tasclienherb. p. 4, t. 2 (1821). N e e s et H o r n s c h . Bryol. Germ. i. p.
17, t. 3, f. 7 (1823). B r id . Bryol. Univ. i. p. 8 (1826). H ü b e n . Muse. Germ. p. 26
(1833). C. M ü l l . Synops. i. p. 100 (1849). Sc h im p . Torfm. p. 74, t. 22 (1858);
Synops. p. 682 (i860), et ed. 2, p. 843 (1876). L in d b . in Öfv. K . Vet. A k. Forh.
xix. p. 141, n. I I (1862). H a r tm . Skand. FI. ed. 9, ii. p. 82 (1864). Russow,
Torfm. p. 71 (1865). Sc h l ie p h . in Verh. Z. B. Gesel. Wien, 1865, p. 406. FI.
Danica, t. 2754, excl. f. 6 et v. (1867). K l in g g . in Sehr, der K . Phys. CEk. Gesel.
zu Königs. 1872, p. 8. M il d e , Bryol. Siles. p. 392 (1869). B r a it h w . Sphag. Brit.
Exsic. n. IS (1877). H o b k . Syn. Br. Moss. p. 25 (1873).
Sph. contortum v a r . subsecundum, W i l s . B r y . B r i t . p . 2 2 , t . Ix . ( 1 8 5 5 ) .
D io icou s ; tall, slender, in soft tufts o f various colours, glaucous
green, yellowish green, brownish or ochraceous. Stem solid, brown
or blackish, somewhat glossy, with a single thin layer o f cuticular
cells without pores; those o f the peripheral layers deep brown.
Stem leaves small, from a broad base, broadly ovate, minutely
auricled, cucullate at apex, but finally flattened, and ve ry minutely
fringed ; bordered by four rows o f extremely narrow cells ; upper
hyaline cells broader, densely fibrose and porose, the lower longer
and narrower without fibres and pores, or sometimes furnished with
them to the base.
Ramuli about four in a fascicle, 2-3 arcuato-patulous, 1-2
pendent, less elongated, not appressed to stem, the retort cells
perforated at the slightly recurved apex. Lea ve s o f the divergent
branches la xly incumbent or patent, more or less secund and
subfalcate at apex, broadly elliptic, acuminate, v e ry concave, with
the margin involute in the upper half, narrowly bordered, the point
with 3-5 small teeth ; hyaline cells v e ry small, flexuose, elongated,
with annular and spiral fibres, and numerous minute pores in a row
at each margin ; chlorophyllose cells enclosed b y the hyaline,
central, strongly compressed.
Fruit usually seated in the capitulum ; perichætial bracts laxly
imbricated, elongate oblong, acuminate, fibrose, and with a few
pores in the upper part. Spores ferruginous.
Male plants more slender, in distinct tufts ; the amentula short,
olive green or rufescent ; the bracts broadly ovate, acute, with
incurved bordered margins.
H ab .— Wet heaths and ditches. Fr. July.
E u r o p e .— Generally distributed, but not very frequent; Scandinavia, Germany,
Silesia, Belgium; Westmoreland, Skeggles Water (Barnes), Bowness (Hunt), Devonshire
(Holmes)
N. A m e r ic a .—-Not common.
Sph. subsecundum grows in loose tufts, which are often o f great
size, and is chiefly remarkable for the multiplicity o f forms under
which it presents itself as well as for the variety o f hues with which
these are tinted, embracing deep green, every shade o f yellow,
ochraceous or brownish green, and various tints o f claret colour.
The typical form o f the species appears to be the most uncommon,
and is also rare in fruit.
Protean as this plant undoubtedly is, there need never be any
difficulty in its determination, for it is the only Luropean species
with a single layer o f cuticular cells to the s tem ; the latter is
generally o f a ve ry dark brown or black colour, and shines conspicuously
through the branches when in a moist state.
Var. contortum (S chu lt z), S chimp.
Robust, more or less immersed, yellowish green, tinged
generally with claret colour, ferruginous, ochraceous, or olivaceous.
Ramuli crowded, terete, the upper usually more or less
circinate.
Stem leaves large, fibrose. Branch leaves ve ry large and
broad, closely imbricated, not secund, or slightly so when dry,