Sphagnum austinii
Sphagnum sect. Sphagnum
Austin's peat-moss, Austin's sphagnum
leaves 1.2–1.6 × 1 mm; rarely hemiisophyllous;
hyaline cells nonseptate or more typically mostly septate, comb-lamellae present on interior wall.
leaves typically as large as or larger than branch leaves, lingulate to ovate-lingulate with broad rounded apex, border fringed;
hyaline cells rhomboid, efibrillose or fibrillose, sometimes ornamented, aporose, 0–2-septate, and often resorbed on exterior surface.
clavate, tapering to short point, tightly imbricate at proximal end to somewhat spreading at distal end in less compact forms.
dimorphic, spreading branches tumid, pendent branches usually shorter and more slender.
ovate-elliptical to elliptical, 1.5–2.1 × 0.8–1.4 mm;
hyaline cells on convex surface with numerous moderate-sized round pores along the commissures, comb-lamellae present throughout most of leaf; chlorophyllous cells broadly triangular in transverse section and well-enclosed on the convex surface, end wall not thickened.
ovate to broadly ovate, apex cucullate and roughened on convex surface;
margin toothed;
hyaline cells fibrillose;
convex surface pores round to elliptic, usually with 1 at each corner of three adjacent hyaline cells; chlorophyllous cells lenticular to triangular, sometimes with wall ornamentation visible in transverse section; chlorophyllous cells enclosed, equally exposed, or more broadly exposed on concave surface, end walls thickened or unthickened.
dioicous.
usually dioicous.
with scattered pseudostomata.
2 mm or more.
23–28 µm; coarsely granulate on both surfaces;
proximal laesura more than 0.50 spore radius.
typically 22–30 µm, distal surface sculpture may be present;
proximal laesura usually more than 0.5 spore radius.
fascicles with 2 spreading and 1 pendent branch.;
branch stems with cortical cell comb-lamellae visible on interior wall, conspicuous funnel-like projection on interior end walls extending to next cell less than one half its length, pores in superficial wall restricted to leaf bases.
fascicles with 2–3 spreading branches and 1–3 pendent branches.;
branch stems green, surrounded by 1 layer of enlarged thin-walled cells, typically porose and fibrillose, in some species ornamented on interior wall;
retort cells absent.
Sphagnum austinii
Sphagnum sect. Sphagnum
Sphagnum austinii is usually easily recognized in the field by its strongly imbricate and clavate branches. It forms very dense and often tall hummocks with a distinct deep golden brown color. In contrast to the view stated by H. A. Crum (1997), this species has an ecology and distribution quite distinct from those of S. affine. Sphagnum affine is a minerotrophic species that does not even occur in the Pacific coast region, where S. austinii is quite prominent.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Species 54 (12 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Branch leaf chlorophyllous cells in transverse section ± equilateral-triangular, often with conspicuous vertically oriented comb-fibrils on the hyaline cells where overlying chlorophyllous cells | → 2 |
1. Branch leaf chlorophyllous cells in transverse section narrowly triangular, trapezoidal, truncate-elliptic, elliptic or lenticular; comb-fibrils if present horizontally oriented | → 6 |
2. Branch cortical cells with funnel-like projections often extending halfway or more into the next cell; branches strongly clavate and blunt. | S. portoricense |
2. Branch cortical cells with flat end walls or with weak funnel-like projections extending less than halfway into the next cell; branches not clavate or if clavate, with pointed ends | → 3 |
3. Interior layer of stem cortical cells with distinct comb-lamellae; branch leaves with or without comb-lamellae; stem leaves without comb-lamellae. | S. affine |
3. Interior layer of stem cortical cells without comb-lamellae or at least not visible with a light microscope; branch leaves with comb-lamellae; stem leaves with or without comb-lamellae | → 4 |
4. Stem leaf hyaline cells with distinct comb-lamellae; branches clavate and pointed; branches leaves strongly imbricate. | S. austinii |
4. Stem leaf hyaline cells without distinct comb-lamellae; branches not clavate; branch leaves more or less spreading | → 5 |
5. Stem leaves short (ca. 0.8-1.1 mm); branch leaves broad (breadth:length ca. 0.7-0.8), branch leaf comb-lamellae usually distinct only in lower half of leaf; branch cortical comb-lamellae present; plants yellow to golden brown. | S. imbricatum |
5. Stem leaves long (ca. 1.1-1.5 mm.); branch leaves narrow (breadth:length ca. 0.6-0.68), branch leaf comb-lamellae distinct throughout most of leaf; branch cortical cell comb-lamellae usually absent; plants dark brown. | S. steerei |
6. Branch leaf chlorophyllous cells in transverse section short-elliptic, elliptic to lenticular, and enclosed on both surfaces | → 7 |
6. Branch leaf chlorophyllous cells in transverse section narrowly triangular, rectangular to truncate-elliptic, exposed equally on both surfaces or more broadly on the convex surface | → 9 |
7. Branch leaf chlorophyllous cells in transverse section short-elliptic and well enclosed; plants purplish red when pigmented. | S. magellanicum |
7. Branch leaf chlorophyllous cells in transverse section narrowly elliptic and slightly enclosed on both surfaces; plants brown when pigmented | → 8 |
8. Branch leaf chlorphyllous cells in transverse section without thickened ends walls; superficial stem cortical cells with reinforcing fibrils weak or absent; branch leaf hyaline cells where overlying chlorophyll cells often with comb-fibrils | S. alaskense |
8. Branch leaf chlorphyllous cells in transverse section with thickened end walls; superficial stem cortical cells with strong reinforcing fibrils; branch leaf hyaline cells where overlying chlorophyllous cells smooth. | S. centrale |
9. Branch leaf hyaline cells papillose where overlying chlorophyllous cells. | S. papillosum |
9. Branch leaf hyaline cells epapillose where overlying chlorophyllous cells | → 10 |
10. Superficial stem cortical cells with fibrils weak or lacking; chlorophyllous cells rectangular to truncate-elliptic, exposed equally on both surfaces. | S. perichaetiale |
10. Superficial stem cortical cells with strong fibrils; chlorophyllous cells triangular, exposed more broadly on concave surface | → 11 |
11. Branch leaf hyaline cells where overlying chlorophyllous cells often with irregular worm-like ridges, especially at the leaf base; pores on the convex surface numerous, small and round to elliptic. | S. henryense |
11. Branch leaf hyaline cells smooth throughout; pores on the convex surface elliptic to flattened-elliptic, not numerous. | S. palustre |
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