Sphagnum magellanicum
Sphagnaceae
Magellan's sphagnum, magellanic peat-moss
leaves to 2 × 0.7 mm; rarely hemiisophyllous;
hyaline cells non-ornamented, mostly nonseptate.
long and tapering to short and pointed, leaves loosely imbricate.
usually of two distinctly different types;
branch leaves that are normally inrolled and broadest ca. 1/4–1/3 the distance from the base, more or less tapered to a cucullate to involute apex;
stem leaves more or less flat and usually broadest at the base;
both leaf types of a network of hyaline, dead cells and green chlorophyllose cells;
pores and reinforcing fibrils frequent in branch leaf hyaline cells and uncommon in stem leaf hyaline cells.
broadly ovate, to 2 × 1 mm or more wide, broadly ovate, hyaline cells non-ornamented, convex surface with round to elliptic pores along the commissures; chlorophyllous cells short-elliptic in transverse section and well-enclosed on both surfaces.
dioicous.
with numerous pseudostomata.
22–30 µm; roughly papillose to nearly smooth, with distinct Y-mark sculpture on distal surface;
proximal laesura 0.5–0.8 spore radius.
released by explosive opening of operculum.
fascicles with 2–3 spreading and 2–3 pendent branches.;
branch stems with hyaline cells non-ornamented;
no or weak funnel-like projections on the interior end walls, large round pores on superficial cell walls.
thallose.
lacking.
consisting of a spherical capsule with pseudostomata on capsule surface, a very short seta, and a foot, exserted on a pseudopodium of gametophyte tissue.
Sphagnum magellanicum
Sphagnaceae
As the only boreal species of the section with a reddish purple color, Sphagnum magellanicum is usually easy to identify. The branch leaf chlorophyll cells are capable of being confused only with those of S. alaskense, which are less enclosed on both surfaces, and S. centrale, which has thickened end walls on the chlorophyll cells that give them a narrow exposure on the concave surface.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The sphagnum mosses, or peat mosses, are unique not only morphologically but also ecologically. With their abundant clear cells they can retain up to 25 times their dry weight in water, and a uniquely strong acidifying power permits sphagnum to direct succession wherever conditions are suitable for them to flourish. Much of the earth’s surface with a cool humid climate is dominated, thus, by sphagnum peatlands.
Genus 1, species ca. 285 (89 species in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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