Page:The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage.djvu/434

398 those which are interposed between the larger utricles, and which form the network of the leaf. This is well explained by the cauline leaves of Sphagnum fimbriatum (Wils. MSS.), a very curious British and Antarctic species, long confounded with S. acidifolium ; in them the spirally lined cells are altogether absent. Spirally lined cells communicate with each other by pores, as we have ourselves witnessed the passage of animalcules (vibrio) from one cell into another.

1. Sphagnum cymhi folium, Dill.; caule elongato, ramis crassis, foliis imbricatis patentibus ovatis obtusis concavis superne denticulatis cellubs ramulorurn spiraliter lineatis. S. cymbifolium, Nees et Hovnsch. Bryol. Germ. vol. i. p. 6. 1. 1. f. 1. S. obtusifolium, Hook, et Tayl. Muse. Brit, ed. 2. p. 1 3. t. 4 (ex parte).

Var. 2. condensatum, Hook. fil. et "Wils.; caule huniili, ramnlis brevissimis undicpie dense confertis. S. condensatum, Brid. Bryol. Univ. vol. i. p. 18 (?).

Hab. Falkland Islands ; common in streams, bogs, and peat-ponds. Var. 2. Strait of Magalhaens, Port Famine, Copt. King.

In general aspect exceedingly like the more compact form of S. compactiim, Bridel, but preserving the true character of the species to which we refer it, in the shape of the leaves, and in the markings of the ramuline cellules. Our specimens are all fertile, the stems not two inches in length. An example occurs where two capsules are produced upon the same pseudopodium.

Mr. Valentine was the first to point out (in the 'Muscologia Nottinghamensis') the structure of the cells of the ramuli, which, from oft-repeated observation, we consider a valid specific character, distinguishing this species from all others. On the other hand, the characters derived from the length of the peduncle and the disposition of the branches appear to be fallacious.

2. Sphagnum jmbriatum, Wils. MSS.; caule longiusculo gracili subramoso, foliis dimorphis, caulinis obovato-subrotundis obtusissimis fimbriatis, rameis ovato-lanceolatis acuminatis concavis acutis, perichsetialibus obovatis obtusis valde concavis, tbeca brevi-pedunculata.

Hab. Hcrmite Island, Cape Horn, and the Falkland Islands.

Caidis plerumque gracilis. Rami 3-nati subinde 4-5-nati, longiusculi, apice attenuati. Folia caulina erecta, subrotunda, obtusissima, fimbriata ! , cellulis propriis (chlorophyllo farctis) reticulum formantibus, interstitiis (e defectu utriculoram linea spirali notatorum) vacuis, folia ramorum conferta, erecto-patentia, apice subrecurva concava, acuta, perichsetialia subcucullata, subretusa, obtusissima, concava, thecam imniaturam arete amplectentia. Theca matura globosa, pedicello breviusculo exserto.

From Sphagnum acutifolium, Elirh., this species may be readily known by its more slender habit, and is essentially distinguished by the peculiar cauline leaves, which consist of an open net-work of parenchymatous cells without any intermediate ones lined with spiral filaments ; the perichsetial leaves are also very different in shape, and those nf the branches are more acute, their reticulation also is, especially at the summit, considerably smaller.

The specimens here described are not so slender as others gathered in Britain ; but possess all their essential characters ; the S. acii/ifolia of Montague (Voy. au Pole Sud, Bot. Crypt, p. 2S2) is probably the same plant.

3. Sphagnum cuspidatum, Ehrh.; ramulis attenuates laxis, foliis lanceolato-subulatis laxis patulis siccitate undulatis marginibus reflexis perichretialibus acutis. S. cuspidatum, Nees et EornscA. Bryol. Germ. vol. i. p. 13. t. 4. f. 9. Hook, et Tayl. Muse. Brit. p. 15. t, iv.

Hab. Hermite Island, Cape Horn, and the Falkland Islands; common.

Neither this, nor any of the other southern Sphagna, arc so universal in the Antarctic bogs as they are in the European and Arctic.