The English flora - SeaweedAfrica

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Sphagnum.] MUSCl-ACRdCARPl-GYMNOSToMI. O
naked. Calyptra irregularly torn. (Muse. Brit. t. 1.)—Name
applied by Dillenius to this Genus of Plants. The Sphagnum
of Pliny is some kind of tree-moss or lichen—The species
are all aquatic and remarkable for the beautiful texture of
their leaves and for their pale almost white colour, especially
when dry.
1. S. obtusifolium, Ehrh. (blunt-leaved Bog-Moss) ; branches
tumid, leaves ovate obtuse. Muse. Brit. p. 13. t. 4. x. vulgaris,
stems
cated.
loosely tufted, 7 or
Ehrh. Or. n. 241,
8 inches long, leaves closely imbri-
(according to Sm.) Brum. Muse.
Scot. v. 1. n. 3
Muse. Hib.p. 5.
S. latifolium, Hedw. Sp. Muse. p. 27. Turn.
Fl. Brit. p. 1145. E. Bot. t. 1405.—S.cym-
bifolium, Sic. (to which may be added probably S. contort inn,
Scludtz and S. subsecundum, Nees ; and many species of Bridel.)
—S. palustre, a. Linn.—Bill. Muse. t. 32. /. 1.— 0. minus, stems
densely tufted 2 or 3 inches long, leaves closely imbricated. S.
compactum, Schwaegr. Sitppl. v. 1. t. 3. Bryol. Germ. v. 1.
p. 13. t. 2. /. 5. (excellent). y.fluitcins, stems much lengthened
out, 2 to 3 feet long slender, leaves scattered remote.
S. latifolium, /5. fluitans, Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 6. S. immersum,
Bryol Germ. v. I. p. 11. t. 2./. 4.
Bogs and still pools, in heaths and moory soils, every where most
abundant. Fr. Spring.— Linnaeus was perhaps correct in supposing that
there was but one species of Sphagnum: for I think that from the
var. a. of S. obtusifolium, the most decidedly marked of the broad-leaved
state of the Genus, a regular gradation may be traced to S. cuspidal urn,
which has the longest and narrowest leaves. It is very certain that
the limits of the species, if such they may be called, cannot be defined.
Bridel enumerates 16 species.
2. S. squarrosum, Web. et Mohr. (spreading-leaved Bog-
Moss) ; branches attenuated at the extremities, leaves ovatoacuminate
squarrose recurved. Web. et Mohr, It. Suee. t. 2.f. 1.
a. b. E. Bot. t. 1498. Drum. Muse. Scot. v. 2. n. 4. Muse. Brit.
ed. 2. p. 1 3. t. 4.
Bogs; not rare. Fr. June.— Separated from the last on account of
its more acuminated, and, at the extremities, recurved /caves.
3. S. acutifdlium, Ehrh. (slender Bog-Moss) ; branches at-
tenuated, Leaves ovato-lanceolate crowded. Ehrh. Or. n. 72.
(Sm.) Schwaegr. Suppl. v. 1. p. 15. t. 5. Brum. Muse. Scot.
v. 1. )i. 1. Muse. Brit.ed. -2. />. 14. /. 4. S. capiUifolium, Hedw.
Sp. Muse. p. 28. FL /hit. p. 1146. E. Bot/ t. 1406. S.
pal usf re, :}. Linn.—J)ilL Muse. t. 32. f.
2. A.
J5ogs; extremely common. Fr. Spring.
4. 8. cuspiddtum, Ehrh. (long-leaved floating Bog-Mom);
branches attenuated, Leaves Lanceolate-subulate lax. Ehrh. Or.
n. 25, (An.) Fl Brit. p. 1147. B. Bot t. 2892. Schwaegr.
Suppl. r. 1. p. 1(>. /. G. Turn. Muse. Hib* p. 6. Diuin. MutC,
Scot. r. 1. n. 2. Muse. Brit. ed. 2. }>. 15. t. 4.
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