Sphagnum contortum |
Sphagnum wulfianum |
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contorted sphagnum, twisted peat-moss |
wulf's sphagnum |
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Habit | Plants moderate to small-sized, weak-stemmed to spawling; green, yellow-green to golden brown; capitulum usually large and flat with curved branches; green, yellow-green, or golden brown. | |
Stem(s) | leaves triangular-lingulate to lingulate, 0.7–1.4 mm; apex rounded-obtuse and weakly denticulate; hyaline cells nonseptate, mostly efibrillose, and, if porose, with more pores per cell on the concave surface (3–6) than on the convex surface (0–2). |
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Branches | somewhat curved, leaves spreading. |
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Branch leaves | ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 1.2–2 mm; subsecund; hyaline cells with numerous tiny pores in a continuous line along the commissures on the convex surface, no or scattered pores on the concave surface. |
with chlorophyllous cells often with faint papillae on interior walls. |
Sexual condition | dioicous. |
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Capsule | exserted, with scattered pseudo-stomata. |
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Spores | 22–28 µm; papillose on both surfaces; proximal laesurae more than 0.5 spore radius. |
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Branch | fascicles with 2–3 spreading and 2–3(4) pendent branches. |
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Sphagnum contortum |
Sphagnum wulfianum |
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Habitat | Very minerotrophic, sometimes found in slightly basic mires, intolerant of shade | Coniferous forests, and occasionally in Alnus or Salix karrs |
Elevation | low to moderate elevations | low to moderate elevations |
Distribution |
AK; CA; CO; CT; ID; IL; IN; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; OR; PA; RI; VT; WA; WI; WV; AB; BC; NF; NS; ON; QC; Eurasia |
CT; IL; IN; MA; ME; MI; MN; NH; NY; OH; PA; RI; VT; WI; AB; BC; MB; NB; NF; NS; ON; QC; Greenland; Eurasia |
Discussion | Sporophytes are rare in Sphagnum contortum. This species is often associated with S. warnstorfii, S. centrale, Campylium stellatum, and Calliergonella cuspidata. The relatively small size, curved capitulum branches, and loosely spreading, subsecund branch leaves separate this species along with S. subsecundum. See also discussion under 61. S. platyphyllum. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
The sporophytes of Sphagnum wulfianum are moderately common. This is the most dry-growing species in North America, typically growing in association with Sphagnum centrale, S. girgensohnii, S. russowii, and S. squarrosum. It is easily recognized as the only species that regularly has more than six branches per fascicle. The Lycopodium clavatum-like growth habit and conifer swamp habitat along with the strongly 5-ranked branch leaves make it even easier to recognize in the field. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 27, p. 80. | FNA vol. 27, p. 85. |
Parent taxa | ||
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | Schultz: Prodr. Fl. Starg. Suppl., 64. (1819) | Girgensohn: Arch. Naturk. Liv- Ehst- Kurlands, Ser. 2, Biol. Naturk. 2: 173. (1860) |
Web links |