Sphagnum

This genus is exceptionally difficult to identify in the field, and many species can only be reliably separated with a microscope. The Sphagnum flora by Bouwman contains a good field key (in Dutch).

Identification

The following table identifies the genus to the level the sections.


Section	Feature	Species

Sphagnum	Plants large and swolen Branch leaves with hooded apices (ends) Stem leaves obtuse (blunt), lingulate (toungue-shaped)	affine magellanicum paulstre papillosum

Rigida	Compact Minute stem leaves Hanging branches very different	compactum strictum

Squarrosa	Stem leaves large and lingulate (toungue-shaped) Branch leaves not hooded	squarrosum teres

Subsecunda	Sometimes curved, often swollen branches Often copper coloured Branch leaves not hooded At least some stem leaves spreading	contortum denticulatum inundatum platyphyllum subsecundum

Cuspida	Branch leaves recurved when dry, narrow Stem leaves hanging	angustifolium balticum cuspidatum fallax flexuosum majus obtusum pulchrum riparium tenellum

Acutifolia	Pink-red (often) Slender plants Branches not swollen Hanging and spreading branches different S tem leaves erect	capillifolium fimbriatum fuscum molle quinquefarium russowii subnitens

Photgraphs

Sphagnum capillifolium
Sphagnum denticulatum
Sphagnum fallax
Sphagnum fimbriatum
Sphagnum magellanicum
Sphagnum palustre
Sphagnum papillosum
Sphagnum riparium
Sphagnum russowii
Sphagnum squarrosum
Sphagnum subnitens

Information

For further information see the links to sphagnum sites at http://www.botanik.univie.ac.at/pershome/temsch/index.html

Sphagnum squarrosum

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