S P H A G N U M latifolium.
jBroad-leaved Bog-moss.
CKYPTOGAMIA Musci.
G en. Char. Caps, without a fringe. V e il cut round,
its base remaining on the base of the capsule!
A n th e ræ surrounded with a ring.
Spec. Char. Branches bent downwards, swelling.
Leaves ovate, obtuse, concave.
Syn. Sphagnum latifolium. Hedw. Sp. Muse. 27. Sm.
F I . B r i t . 1145. T u rn . Muse. H ib ern . 5.
S. palustre*«. L in n . Sp. P I . 1569. Huds. 465.
W i th . 783. H u ll. 243. R e lk . 412. Sibth. 273,
A b b o t . 228.
S. palustre molle deflexum, squamis cymbiformibus,
D i l l . Muse. 240. t. 32. f . 1.
S. cauliferum et ramosum palustre molle candicans,
reflexis ramulis, foliis latioribus. D i l l , in R a i i Sun.
104. a
T h i s moss, hg large soft elastic spongy tufts, covers the
surface of watery turfy bogs, and is rendered conspicuous by
its pale whitish-green colour, often tinged with red. The
places it covers can seldom be walked upon with safety; and
even when the ground is firm beneath, the moss is often filled
with water like a sponge. Droserce, E rica te tra lix , and in
some places the Cranberry, grow amongst it.
The fmit is chiefly to be met with in summer, but is not
constantly produced. Stems erect, various in height, soft
and flexible, leafy, clothed with numerous short swelling
taper-pointed branches, situated in pairs, and inclining downward.
Some much more slender branches, which accompany
them, are closely pressed downward to the stem. Leaves
imbricated, ovate, broad, obtuse, curved inward, entire, concave,
without rib or veins, regularly reticulated. Fruit-stalks
terminal, shortish, surrounded with new branches, swelled at
the top. Capsule erect, ovate, short, smooth, cylindrical
when dry. Lid almost flat. Veil thin, its circular base more
or less permanent. Anther®, according to Hedwig, surrounded
by a very peculiar ring.