Sphagnum fitzgeraldii
Sphagnum orientale
fitzgerald's sphagnum
oriental sphagnum
pale green;
superficial cortex of 1–2 layers of thin-walled and well differentiated cells.;
stem leaves large, ovate to oblong-ovate, ca. 2 mm, more or less spreading;
apex rounded and serrulate;
hyaline cells fibrillose and often 1–septate, convex surface generally aporose, concave surface with 1–several round pores per cell in ends and angles.
leaves triangular-lingulate to lingulate; 0.7–0.8 mm;
apex rounded and often erose, hyaline cells nonseptate or sometimes 1-septate, numerous small round pores more than 2 µm along the commissures and scattered across the cell on the convex surface, on the concave surface fewer similar-sized pores along the commissures.
unranked to slightly 5-ranked, often short and blunt at distal end.
short and slightly curved Branch fascicles with 2 spreading and 2 pendent branches.
ovate to oblong-quadrate, 1.2–2.5 mm, not undulate or recurved when dry, strongly toothed across apex and serrulate on margins;
hyaline cells with to 4 small round ringed pores at cell ends on convex surface, small round wall thinnings in the cell ends and angles on the concave surface; chlorophyllous cells trapezoidal in transverse section, more broadly exposed on the convex surface.
ovate, 1.1–1.3 mm, distinctly curved to secund;
hyaline cells covered with numerous (more than 30 per cell) tiny pores (ca. 1 µm) on convex surface along the commissures and across the cell surface, sometimes forming several linear rows of free pores, on concave surface with fewer pores round to oval and slightly larger (more than 2 µm) restricted to commissures.
monoicous.
probably dioicous.
not seen.
38–48 µm;
both surfaces covered with fine to moderately coarse papillae;
proximal laesura less than 0.4 spore radius.
not seen.
fascicles with 1–2 spreading and 0–1 pendent branches.;
branch stems green, with cortex enlarged with conspicuous retort cells.
Sphagnum fitzgeraldii
Sphagnum orientale
Sporophytes of Sphagnum fitzgeraldii are common, being immersed or exserted. This species is found largely on the Atlantic coastal plain. The wide truncate branch leaves easily distinguish it in most situations. Floating plants are not as quickly identified but can be distinguished from other species of sect. Cuspidata by the branch leaves wider than those of similar species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The ecology of Sphagnum orientale is poorly known, due in part to taxonomic confusion with S. perfoliatum and in part to its very northern distribution. Like other species of sect. Subsecunda, however, it is clearly minerotrophic, probably weakly so. Associated vascular plants include Carex aquatilis Wahlenberg, C. bigelowii Torrey, C. fuliginosa Schkuhr, C. rotundata Wahlenberg, Eriophorum vaginatum Linnaeus, Vaccinium oxycoccus Linnaeus, and Betula glandulosa Michaux. Associated bryophytes include Sphagnum aongstroemii, S. fimbriatum subsp. concinnum, S. jensenii, S. obtusum, S. rubellum, S. talbotianum, S. squarrosum, and Cinclidium subrotundatum. Sporophytes are rare. Similar species with which it overlaps in range are S. subsecundum, S. perfoliatum and S. inexspectatum. Field separation from S. subsecundum and S. inexspectatum is difficult but the tiny branch leaf pores will separate it microsopically. Sphagnum perfoliatum is much larger and indeed looks much like some forms of S. lescurii or S.auriculatum, even to having curved, horn-like branches. Sphagnum perfoliatum is also typically quite richly colored and glossy in appearance.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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