Sphagnum subtile |
Sphagnum imbricatum |
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sphagnum |
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Habit | Plants small to moderate-sized, slender and stiff, capitulum ± rounded, rarely flat-topped or stellate; green to variegated red-green especially in new growth, capitulum, and antheridial branches, without metallic sheen when dry. | Plants moderate-sized, weak-stemmed, lax; yellowish to golden brown; forming loose carpets; branches loosely imbricate. |
Stem(s) | leaves broad-triangular to triangular lingulate, 0.9–1.2 mm, apex acute to slightly rounded, border strongly broadened at base (more than 0.3 width); hyaline cells mostly 0–1-septate, S-shaped to rhomboid. |
leaves short-rectangular, 0.8–1.1 mm, hyaline cells mostly non-septate and absent comb-fibrils. |
Branches | not 5-ranked. |
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Branch leaves | 0.9–1.2 mm, ovate-lanceolate, 0.9–1.2 mm, concave, straight, apex involute; hyaline cells on convex surface with numerous round to elliptic pores along the commissures (4–8), grading from small pores near apex to large pores at leaf base, concave surface with large round pores in proximal portions of leaf. |
ovate to ovate-elliptic, 1.4–1.8 mm; hyaline cells on convex surface with numerous pores along the commissures; comb-lamellae obvious only in proximal 1/2 of leaf; chlorophyllous cells broadly triangular in transverse section and well-enclosed on the convex surface. |
Sexual condition | dioicous. |
dioecious. |
Spores | 19–29 µm, finely papillose on proximal surface, more coarsely papillose on distal surface, conspicuous bifurcated Y-mark sculpture on distal surface; proximal laesura less than 0.5 spore radius. |
(22) 24–27(–28) µm, surface granulate. |
Branch | fascicles with 2 spreading and 2 pendent branches (rarely 1). |
fascicles with 2 spreading and 1–2 hanging branches.; branch stems with hyaline cells non-ornamented, no or weak funnel-like projections on the end walls of cortical cells, cortical cell walls usually with large round pores. |
Sphagnum subtile |
Sphagnum imbricatum |
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Phenology | Capsules mature late summer to early fall. | |
Habitat | Hummocks, fens, mires | Ecology poorly known |
Elevation | low to moderate elevations | moderate elevations |
Distribution |
CT; IL; IN; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; PA; VA; VT; WI; WV; NB; NF; NS; ON; QC; Europe |
AK |
Discussion | Sphagnum subtile forms small dense cushions and hummocks in damp coniferous forests and in the shaded portions of poor fens and ombrotrophic mires. Sporophytes are common in Sphagnum subtile. Reports that the species is monoicous may be unreliable because of confusion with closely related species (C. B. McQueen 1989). Previous reports of this species from the west coast of North America are uncertain as well as are specimens from the interior of the continent (R. E. Andrus 1979) due to taxonomic confusion with Sphagnum capillifolium and S. rubellum (McQueen). However, this species is conspicuously distinct in gametophyte and spore morphology as well as niche. In the northern part of its range where it overlaps ecologically with S. quinquefarium, the three spreading branches of the latter will distinguish it from S. subtile. It should be noted that contrary to the opinion of H. A. Crum (1997), S. subtile does not occur throughout the range of S. capillifolium but in North America is found over only a portion of the latter’s eastern range, while being absent completely from its western range. See also discussion under 71. S. capillifolium. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
K. I. Flatberg (1984) considered Sphagnum imbricatum to be East Asian in distribution but a recent collection in Selawik National Wildlife Refuge places it in the North American flora. It will undoubtedly be found elsewhere. Sphagnum imbricatum is closest in morphological detail to S. steerei, but the latter is a very dark colored and densely branched species whereas S. imbricatum is quite light in color and not particularly dense. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 27, p. 99. | FNA vol. 27, p. 52. |
Parent taxa | ||
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | S. acutifolium var. subtile, S. nemoreum var. subtile | |
Name authority | (Russow) Warnstorf: in C. Warnstorf et al., Krypt.-Fl. Brandenburg 1: 409. (1903) | Russow: Beitr. Torfm., 99. (1865) |
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