r
T h e typical state o f Sph. acutifolium is that termed rohistum by
Blandow and Nees and Hornschuch, in which the stems are stout
and often tall, the branches rather short, thick, and glossy, with
leaves more or less tinted with red. So much, however, does the
plant vary in size, colour, and density, and in the form of both the
stem leaves and branch leaves, that an endless series o f forms
result, the transitions between which are so gradual that it becomes
difficult to keep the varieties within definite bounds, Schliephacke
pointed out an important character in the structure o f the branch
leaves, viz. that the divergent branches bear up to the middle,
leaves whose lower wider cells have single large pores, these cells
becoming towards the point v e ry small, closely and equally small-
pored ; but as the leaves rise higher on the branches, they gradually
pass to a lanceolate or lanceolate-subulate form, and the areolation
then becomes uniform throughout the leaf, wider, laxer, and provided
with equal large pores.
T h e apex o f the stem leaves in the robust form is often somewhat
truncate and slightly fringed, and thus may be easily mistaken
for Sph. strictum, as was the case in my Exsiccata, under n. 42 b
(var. subfmbriatum); but Sph. acutifolium may be known from
that species by its red amentula, and softer, laxer branch leaves ;
in other forms the point is obtusely rounded, with small imperfect
teeth, or again the teeth may be distinct and well defined.
T h e stem leaves also vary considerably in form and s iz e ; occasionally
we find them v e ry long and ligulate-lanceolate in outline,
or they may pass to the opposite extreme and be short and broadly
ovate, but unfortunately these differences are not always associated
with the same conditions o f habit and colour, and thus a
sharply defined limit to the numerous varieties o f this species
appears to be impossible.
Var. ß. deflexum, Schimp.
Plants densely tufted, short, with closely placed fascicles.
Branches long, flagelliform, all deflexed, their leaves closely imbricated,
longer and narrower, pale green and red. Stem leaves
ovate, pointed, mostly fibrillose. Branch leaves lanceolate,
acuminate.
Sy n o n .— Sph. acutifolium var. ß. dflextim, S c h im p . Torfm. p. 57, t. xiii. ß;
Synops. p. 673, et ed. 2, p. 826. Russow, Beitr. p. 39 (including also his var!
laxum). M il d e , Bry. Siles. p. 381. K l in g g r . in Sehr, der K. Phys. CEk. Gesel.
zu Königs. 1872, p. 3. B r a it h w . Sphag. Brit. Exsic. n. 32.
_ Hab.— Margins of bogs and about the edges of woods, chiefly in alpine districts.
Lapland, Alps of Switzerland, Dovrefjeld. Scotland; Gelan Bog and Dalfroo
Bog, Strachan, Kincardine (Sim); Garynahine, Isl. Lewis, Hebrides (Braithwaite).
England; Darnholm, Goathland, Yorkshire (Anderson).
Th is variety stands nearest the typical form, into which it
passes imperceptibly; the branches are generally rosy red, with
pale points, or a mixture o f green and red, and the texture softer.
Russow’s var. y. laxum appears to be only a tall, loose-leaved form
of the same variety, and Spruce’s lilacinum is intermediate between
this and the next.
Var. y. purpureum, Schimp.
In dense cushioned tufts, almost entirely purple, short, densely
ramulose, the capitulum dense. Stem leaves ovate, usually fibrose,
sometimes slightly truncate, and fringed at point. Branch leaves
ovato-lanceolate, closely imbricated.
S y n o n .— Sph. acutifolium \?oc. purpureum, S c h im p . Torfm. p. 5 7 , t. xiii. 8 ;
Synops. p. 6 7 3 , ed. 2, p. 8 2 6 . Russow, Beitr. p. 4 0 . M i l d e , Bry. Siles. p. 3 8 1 !
K l in g g . in Sehr, der K. Phys. CEk. Gesel. zu Königs. rSyz, p. 3 . B r a i t h w . Sphag.
Brit. Exsic. n. 3 3 .
H a b .— Marshes and moorlands; not unfrequent in mountain districts.
T h is comes close to the last variety, but has shorter and more
spreading branches, with shorter branch le a v e s ; the colour is also
a deeper purple, but pale at the lower part o f the stems.
Var. S. rubellum (W i ls .) , R u ssow.
Dioicous; plants slender, la xly tufted, purple, 2-6 in. high.
Stem leaves large and broad, obtuse, their cells bipartite, but rarely
fibrose. Branch leaves subsecund, oblong-ovate, rather obtuse,
3-toothed at apex. Male amentula deep purple, clavate, obtuse.
Synon.^— Sph. rubellum, W i l s . Bryol. Brit. p. 19, t. I x . ’ (1855). S c h im p .
Torfm. p . 70, t. XX.; Synops. p. 680, et ed. 2, p. 826. L in d b . in Ö fv. K. Vet. Ak.
Förh. xix. p. 142, n. 12. B e r k e l . Handb. p. 306. H a r tm . Sk. Fl. ed. 9, ii. p. 83
(1864). Fl. Danica, t. 2753 (1867). M i l d e , Bry. Siles. p . 383. S c h l i e p h . in Verh.
Z. B. Gesel. Wien, 1865, p. 388. B r a i t h w . in Monthl. Micr. Journ. July, 1872,
pl. x x i i . H o b k . Synop. Br. Moss. p. 24.
Sph. acutifolium var. rubellum, Russ. Torfm. p . 4r. B r a i t h w . Sphag. Brit. Exsic.
n. 36 .
Sph. tenelbim var. ß. rubellum, K lin gg r . in Sehr, der K. Phys. CEk. Gesel.
zu Königs. 1872, p. 4.
H a b .— In marshes at the edges of small pools; rare in fruit. Often growing
intermixed with Sph. tenellum.
E u r o p e .— In Sweden, Norway, Fmland, and Denmark; not unfrequent. Bavaria,