Flora of North America species comparison

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Sphagnaceae
Habit Plants with branches in fascicles, branches usually of spreading and pendent types but rarely spreading only.
Leaves

usually of two distinctly different types;

branch leaves that are normally inrolled and broadest ca. 1/4–1/3 the distance from the base, more or less tapered to a cucullate to involute apex;

stem leaves more or less flat and usually broadest at the base;

both leaf types of a network of hyaline, dead cells and green chlorophyllose cells;

pores and reinforcing fibrils frequent in branch leaf hyaline cells and uncommon in stem leaf hyaline cells.
Spores

released by explosive opening of operculum.
Protonemata

thallose.
Rhizoids

lacking.
Sporophytes

consisting of a spherical capsule with pseudostomata on capsule surface, a very short seta, and a foot, exserted on a pseudopodium of gametophyte tissue.

Sphagnaceae
Distribution
Nearly worldwide
Discussion

The sphagnum mosses, or peat mosses, are unique not only morphologically but also ecologically. With their abundant clear cells they can retain up to 25 times their dry weight in water, and a uniquely strong acidifying power permits sphagnum to direct succession wherever conditions are suitable for them to flourish. Much of the earth’s surface with a cool humid climate is dominated, thus, by sphagnum peatlands.

Genus 1, species ca. 285 (89 species in the flora).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 27, p. 45. Authors: Cyrus B. McQueen†, Richard E. Andrus.
Parent taxa
Subordinate taxa
Name authority Dumortier
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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