Sphagnum andersonianum
Sphagnum bergianum
Anderson's sphagnum
leaves lingulate, 0.9–1.2(–1.4) mm, apex rounded-erose to sometimes slightly apiculate, border moderately strong and broadened at the base (to 0.8 the width);
hyaline cells rhombic, 0–1-septate, usually efibrillose.
leaves broadly triangular-lingulate, 1.15–1.25 × 0.8 mm, apex slightly to broadly obtuse, border moderately broadened at base;
hyaline cells mostly 1-septate with a few to many 2-septate in the mid region, shape rhomboid.
not or slightly 5-ranked, lax.
more or less 5-ranked.
ovate, 0.8–1.4 mm, distinctly concave, straight, apex dentate and involute;
border entire;
hyaline cells on convex surface with elliptic pores along the commissures, grading from smaller pores near the apex to larger pores at the base, concave surface with large round pores on the proximal portions of the leaf.
1.2–1.3 × 0.65–0.75 mm, broadly ovate, apex involute;
hyaline cells on convex surface with numerous round to elliptic pores along the commissures, these grading from small pores at the apex to large pores at the base;
concave surface aporose except for a few large pores in the lower side regions.
dioicous.
dioicous.
18–24 µm; coarsely papillose on both surfaces;
proximal laesura less than 0.5 the length of the spore radius.
26–30 µm.
fascicles with 2 spreading and 1–2 pendent branches.
fascicles with 2 spreading and 1 hanging branch.
Sphagnum andersonianum
Sphagnum bergianum
Sporophytes are uncommon in Sphagnum andersonianum. Its distribution is uncertain due to past taxonomic confusion with S. rubellum, S. capillifolium, and other closely related species in sect. Acutifolia. This is one of the most hydrophytic species of the section and is often associated with S. angustifolium, S. fallax, and S. rubellum. It is often not easily distinguished from S. rubellum, with which it may intergrade in a manner similar to that already demonstrated for S. rubellum and S. capillifolium by N. Cronberg (1997, 1998). Phenotypically S. andersonianum is a softer, paler plant with branch leaves that are more ovate and concave on branches that are less 5-ranked. Sphagnum rubellum also has the branch leaves sometimes subsecund while in S. andersonianum they are straight. Ecologically S. rubellum is an open mire species of usually ombrotrophic conditions, where it often forms hummocks, while S. andersonianum occurs in more sheltered sites where there is some mineral influence. Where they occur together, S. rubellum is on the tops of hummocks and S. andersonianum is on the hummock sides and bases. Microscopically S. rubellum has stem leaves with at least some of the hyaline cells twice septate, while in S. andersonianum none are twice septate.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Sphagnum bergianum forms dense hummocks in medium to rich fen habitats and is associated with such species as Sphagnum warnstorfii, S. subfulvum, S. subsecundum, S. platyphyllum and S. fuscum.
Sphagnum bergianum is quite distinct in the field from its very dark brown color tinged with a deep red as well as its 5-ranked branch leaves. Sphagnum subnitens is colored a light brown and red combination, and has unranked branch leaves. Sphagnum subfulvum has a golden brown color that can be tinged with purple but also has unranked branch leaves. Sphagnum flavicomans is a similar-sized brown species of sect. Acutifolia that overlaps S. bergianum in Newfoundland but it is golden brown, lacks the red tinge and has a longer and narrower branch and stem leaves.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
