Sphagnum warnstorfii
Sphagnum alaskense
Warnstorf's peat-moss, Warnstorf's sphagnum
leaves triangular-lingulate to lingulate, 1.1–1.4 mm, apex broad-rounded to narrowly truncate, border very broad at base (more than 0.3 width);
hyaline cells efibrillose, rhombic, mostly 1-septate but can be non-septate.
leaves to 1.7 × 1.2 mm; rarely hemiisophyllous;
hyaline cells nonseptate to occasionally septate, comb-lamellae absent.
long and tapering, usually strongly 5-ranked.
long and tapering.
ovate-lanceolate, 0.9–1.4 mm, concave, straight, apex involute;
hyaline cells on convex surface with very small ringed pores (less than 0.25 cell width) along commissures near apex, changing abruptly to large elliptical pores (0.4 cell width or more) basally, concave surface with large round pores in proximal margins and leaf base.
broadly ovate, to 3 × 2.3 mm;
hyaline cells on proximal half of convex surface with elliptical pores along the commissures, often with ridges running parallel to long leaf axis on hyaline cell surface overlying chlorophyllous cells; chlorophyllous cells elliptical and just enclosed on both surfaces in transverse section;
end walls not thickened.
dioicous.
dioicous.
not seen.
17–26 µm, finely papillose on both surfaces;
proximal laesura less than 0.5 spore radius.
unknown.
fascicles with 2 spreading and 1–2 pendent branches.
fascicles with 2 spreading and 2 pendent branches.;
branch stems with hyaline cells non-ornamented, no or weak funnel-like projections on the interior end walls, often with large round pores on the superficial wall.
Sphagnum warnstorfii
Sphagnum alaskense
Sporophytes are uncommon in Sphagnum warnstorfii. This is one of the most minerotrophic species of the flora, is hygrophytic, and has a very broad niche. The most commonly associated vascular plants are Thuja occidentalis, Abies balsamea, and Picea rubens. Bryophytes typically associated with it are S. centrale, S. squarrosum, S. teres, Calliergonella cuspidata, and Campylium stellatum. This species is perhaps most similar to S. bartlettianum, with which it has small range overlap. Sphagnum warnstorfii has a shorter and less sharply pointed stem leaf and the red color with a characteristic bluish caste compared to the crimson red of S. bartlettianum. See also discussion under 81. S. russowii and 86. S. talbotianum.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Sphagnum alaskense most resembles S. magellanicum and S. centrale in its chorophyll cell cross section. The cross section characteristic is most similar to that of S. centrale but S. alaskense lacks thickened walls. Sphagnum alaskense also apparently does not have any range overlap with S. centrale, the latter being more of a boreal forest species. Sphagnum alaskense occurs in more open and less mineral rich sites near the coast. Sphagnum magellanicum has more well-enclosed chlorophyll cells and usually has some purplish coloration, whereas S. alaskense often has a quite distinctive pinkish brown color which, along with its often large flattened capitula, can give it a distinctive look in the field.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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