Sphagnum andersonianum
Sphagnum inundatum
Anderson's sphagnum
lesser cow-horn bog-moss, lesser cow-horn peat moss, water 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 lingulate to triangular-lingulate, 0.9–1.2 mm, apex rounded, usually 1/3–1/2 of leaf fibrillose;
hyaline cells usually fibrillose in distal 1/3–1/2 of leaf, on convex surface near apex with 1–3 pores per cell, on concave surface near apex 1–4 pores per cell.
not or slightly 5-ranked, lax.
arched but rarely curved and contorted.
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.
ovate, 1–1.5 mm, straight to slightly subsecund;
hyaline cells of convex surface with numerous ringed pores along the commissures (12–22 per cell), 0–3 pores per cell on the concave surface.
dioicous.
with few pseudostomata.
18–24 µm; coarsely papillose on both surfaces;
proximal laesura less than 0.5 the length of the spore radius.
30–37 µm; finely papillose on both surfaces, indistinct raised Y-shaped sculpture on distal surface;
proximal laesura 0.5 spore radius or less.
fascicles with 2 spreading and 1–2 pendent branches.
fascicles with 2–3 spreading and 2–3 pendent branches.
Sphagnum andersonianum
Sphagnum inundatum
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.)
The sporophytes of Sphagnum inundatum are uncommon. The ovate, concave branch leaves that are occasionally subsecund give this species an appearance similar to that of S. subsecundum, from which it can usually be distinguished by its larger size. Sphagnum lescurii typically has distinctly larger stem leaves and capitulum branches that can be quite turgid and curved in open-grown forms.
The names Sphagnum bavaricum Warnstorf and S. bushii Warnstorf & Cardot have been applied to this taxon.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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