The natural and agricultural history of peat-moss or turf-bog. To which are annexed corroborative writings, correspondence and observations... / by Andrew Steele.

  • Steele, Andrew
Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The natural and agricultural history of peat-moss or turf-bog. To which are annexed corroborative writings, correspondence and observations... / by Andrew Steele. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The plants growing on the surface of this moss were the following : Sphagnum palustre, Poly tri¬ chum commune, Lycopodium selago, Lichen ran- giferinus, with many others of the Lichen, Bryum and Mnium tribes of moss-plants, Eriophora poly- stachion and vaginatum, Tormentilla erect a, Scir- pus ccespitosus, Nardus strict a, Ericce vulgaris, Tetralim and cinerea. There were also found growing in deep moss-earth, more dry than other parts of the bog, Salim pentandrci, Salim malifo- lia, Betula alba, Pinus sylvestris. I consider . that the Sphagnum palustre, or green bog-moss, together with the Bryum hypnoides, and particu¬ larly its variety called the Trichostomum lanugi- nosum, or white woolly bog-moss, are the principal constituent parts of every peat-bog. The sphag¬ num grows in stagnated water, and begins almost every bog, and the bryum commences its growth when the bog is not so wet, and forms, with its va¬ rieties, generally the red peat-bog. The heath, with its accompaniment the Hypnum cuspidatum, grows in drier moss-grounds afterwards. The peat generated from the bryum tribe of moss-plants seem to me to continue longest in a soft and spongy state.
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