concave, convolute above, ve ry narrowly marg ined; the apex
truncate, and with 5-6 irregular t e e th ; the hyaline cells angulato-
fusiform, ve ry prominent and confluent at the back, with annular
and spiral fibres, and a few large p o r e s ; chlorophyllose cells
slender, triangular, projecting between the hyaline at the concave
surface o f leaf. Capsules in the capitulum or upper fascicles, perichaetium
not separating, the upper bracts broadly oblong-ovate,
convolute, with 2-3 irregular teeth at apex, the lower cells
elongate hexagono-rhomboid, the upper normal, free from fibres
and pores.
Male amentula short, thick, purple, placed in the com a ; the
bracts oblong, obtuse.
H a b .— B y m o o r la n d s t r e am s a n d s a n d y s p r in g s .
N . A m e r ic a .— Mountains o f N . Carolina (Gray); Tallulah Falls, Georgia
(Lesquereux).
Professor Lindberg was the first to identify Sph. M u lle r i with
the American Sph. molle, and undoubtedly they only constitute a
single species, yet, as certain differences exist between them, I
have deemed it best still to maintain Sph. M iille ri as a variety.
T a k in g the original plant issued in the Musci Alleghanienses as
the type, it presents a different aspect to Sph. M u lle r i in that its
branch leaves are shorter, broader, more divergent, and slightly
squarrose, the stem leaves without fibres in the lower half, and the
plants more rigid and o f a greener colour. T h e specimens are
without fruit, but, according to Sullivant’s figure, the apex o f the
perichætial bracts is truncate and not acutely acuminate. A s to
the dtoicous position o f the inflorescence, it is probable that some
error exists, as in Sph. M iille r i the male amentula are certainly ve ry
rare,^ and appear to be o f short duration ; I have observed them in
specimens received from Mr. Sim, and in these they were ve ry
short, and o f a rich purple colour.
T h a t Sullivant did not clearly understand his plant is evident,
as, in his two Exsiccata, forms o f Sph. molle are referred to four
different species.
Var. Muelleri (Schimp.), B r a i t h w .
Pale whitish green, soft. Branches longer, patulous or ascending,
the pendent branches slender, short. Stem leaves more
elongated, the hyaline cells strongly fibrose and porose except near
á
the base. Branch leaves longer, oblong-lanceolate. Perichætial
bracts lanceolate, acuminate, the apex with 4 -5 irregular teeth,
hyaline cells fibrose.
S y n o n .— Sph. molluscoides, C. M ü l l . Synops. i. p. 99 (1849).
Sph. Miilleri, S c h im p . Torfm. p. 73, t. 26 (1858); Synops. p. 686 (i860), et
ed. 2, p. 841 (1876). L in d b . in Öfv. K. Vet. Ak. Förh. xix. p. 140, n . 9 (1862).
S u l l i v . I c . Muse. p. 9, t. 5 (1864). Russow, Beitr. zur Kennt. Torfm. p. 78 (1865).
S c h l i e p h . in Verh. Z. B. Gesel. Wien, 1865, p. 403.
Sph. molle, L in d b . in Öfv. K. Vet. Ak. Förh. xx. p. 414 (1863). M i l d e , Bryol.
Siles. p. 391 (1869). B r a i t h w . Sphag. Brit. Exsic. n. 21 (1877).
H a b .— By moorland streams, forming small dense hassocks. Fr. August.
E u r o p e .— Near Jever, in Oldenburg, and at Detmold (C. M ü l l e r ) ; Estrup, in
Jylland, Denmark (Lange, 1853); Hofmansgave, in Fuen (Hofman-Bang, 1861);
Höör, in Scania (Berggren); Mt. Hunneberg, in Westergöthland (Lindberg); Silesia;
Holland ; heaths near Dellbriick and Höxter, in Westphalia; Aurich, in Friesland;
near Baireuth (Arnold). England: Darnholm, Goathland, Vorkshire (Anderson,
1853); Brickhill Heath, Bucks (Rev. J. F. Crouch); Rowdsey Moss, Ulverston,
Lancashire (Miss Hodgson). Scotland: Ben Lawers (MacKinlay); about Strachan
and Banchory (Sim). Shdland: At N. Maven and in Unst (Sim).
N. A m e r i c a .— Mobile (Sullivant).
This plant is probably not uncommon with us, but has doubtless
been passed over as a form o f Sph. aculifolium, from which it may
be at once distinguished by its large fibrose stem leaves, which
want the wide border o f narrow cells, so well marked in that
species ; but the barren specimens in some copies of my Exsiccata
are truly Sph. aculifolium.
Var. y. lenerum ( S u l l . L e sq .), B r a i t h w .
Stems 1-2 in. high, densely cæspitose, o f a dirty white or
yellowish colour. Branches closely crowded, erecto-patent, their
leaves acuminate, somewhat undulate at margin. Perichætial
bracts lanceolate, acuminate, broadly bordered above, fibrillose
in the middle, irregularly 4 -5 toothed at apex.
S y n o n .— Sph. acutifolium var. ? S u l l . Muse. Allegh. n. 203 (1845).
Sph. tenerum. S u l l . L e s q . Muse. Bor.-Amer. n. 11 ; Mosses of Un. St. p. 11, n. 5.
Sph. tabulare. S u l l . L e s q . Muse. Bor.-Amer. n. 15 (1856) ; Mosses of Un. St.
p. 12, n. 13 (1856).
Sph. molle var. ardum, B r a i t h w . Sphag. Brit. Exsic. n. 2i*e.
H a b .— In drier places among decayed peat.
N. A m e r i c a .— Table Mountain, N. Carolina ; Mobile, Alabama.
E u r o p e .— England: Darnholm, Goathland, Vorkshire (Braithwaite). Scotland:
Dalfroo Bog, Strachan, Kincardine, in fine fruit, growing with Sph. rigidum var.
compadum (Sim, Aug. 1878).