Red Bog Moss

Sporophytes are fairly common in Sphagnum capillifolium. This species is most common and abundant in ombrotrophic heath vegetation associated with S. angustifolium, S. fallax, S. fuscum, S. magellanicum, S. rubellum, Polytrichum commune, and P. juniperinum. It can be distinguished from most other red species of sect. Acutifolia with which it co-occurs by its lack of 5-ranking in the branches. Sphagnum subtile is a forest and non-hummock forming species that has a distinctly shorter and more triangular-lingulate stem leaf. The stem leaf border on S. subtile is also more strongly bordered. Sphagnum tenerum, which geographically overlaps S. capillifolium only very minimally, has much more turgid branches and a generally more robust look. The stem leaf of S. tenerum is triangular-lingulate as compared to the lingulate- triangular stem leaf of S. capillifolium. See also discussion under 84. S. subnitens and 87. S. tenerum.

The names Sphagnum acutifolium Schrader and S. nemoreum Scopoli (doubtful name) have also been used for this taxon.

This species shows great variation. Numerous varieties have been published under this species complex. A clear distinction among the complex is difficult to make. Several varieties in the complex sometimes show their variation beyond species level. For example, when Warnstorf (1911) described the character of pore formation in Sphagnum capillifolium, he included nearly every type of pore formation found in the genus. In addition, certain authors consider the slender plants with pinkish to reddish color to be within the variation of this species. Thus, a number of species have been mistakenly included under synonymy of this species. A differentiation of the border of stem leaves is, however, a relatively stable feature. This feature is the same as that of Sphagnum girgensohnii and S. russowii. The latter two species differ in having their stem leaves broadly ligulate with flat, truncate leaf apices, while the stem-leaf apex in Sphagnum capillifolium is gradually acute and involute-cucullate.

Plants small to moderate-sized, compact to fairly slender, normally stiff and erect; capitulum typically hemispherical; in exposed sites red, mottled red and green, in shaded sites green forms are common; without metallic lustre when dry. Stems green to red; superficial cortical cells aporose Stem leaves lingulate-triangular, 1.2-1.6(-1.8) mm, apex ± involute; border entire and broadened to about 0.25 the width of the base; hyaline cells S-shaped, 0-1-septate, usually fibrillose in distal portion of leaf. Branches not 5-ranked, terete. Branch fascicles with 2 spreading and 1-2 pendent branches. Branch leaves ovate-lanceolate, 1-1.4 mm, imbricate to moderately spreading, concave, straight, strongly involute near apex; hyaline cells on convex surface with elliptic pores along commissures, concave surface with large round pores away from commissures in proximal portions of leaf. Sexual condition dioicous. Spores 20-28 µm; finely papillose on both surfaces, with distinct raised Y-shaped sculpture on distal surface; proximal laesura 0.5 spore radius or more.

Plants variable in size and color, usually green to yellowish brown, somewhat tinged with pinkish color, sometimes distinctly reddish, not shiny when dry, in loosely compact tufts. Stem cortex in 2–4 layers, hyaline cells thin-walled, without fibrils and pores; central cylinder yellowish or light reddish. Stem leaves differentiated in size on the same stem, generally larger in the lower parts and smaller in the upper parts of the stems, 1.0–1.5 mm × 0.4–0.7 mm, oblong-ovate to oblong-isosceles-triangular, upper margins involute to a nearly cucullate apex; borders narrow above, clearly widened below; hyaline cells broad-rhomboidal in the upper parts of leaves, mostly divided, narrow-rhomboidal below, less divided, with large pores on both surfaces. Branches in fascicles of 3–5, with 2–3 spreading. Branch leaves 0.9–1.4 mm × 0.4–0.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, upper margins involute, with blunt, dentate apex; hyaline cells densely fibrillose, upper cells with pores at ends and at corners, lower cells and marginal cells with large pores on ventral surface, with numerous, ringed, elliptic pores in the upper cells, gradually enlarged in the lower cells on the dorsal surface; green cells in cross section triangular, exposed on the ventral surface. Dioicous or monoicous; branches with antheridia reddish; perigonial leaves short and broad with abruptly narrowed apex. Perichaetial leaves broadly ovate, abruptly involute-concave at the apex. Spores pale-yellowish, smooth or slightly papillose, 20–25 µm in diameter.

Distribution: China, India, Korea, Japan, Russian Far East, Europe, North and South America, and Africa.

Habitat: in peatland under conifers or Rhododendron brush, on wet humus and the sides of hummocks.

Sphagnum palustre var. capillifolium Ehrhart, Hannover Mag. 18: 235. 1780; S. capillaceum (Weiss) Schrank; S. capillifolium var. viride Jennings; S. margaritae H. A. Crum;

Sphagnum acutifolium Ehrh. ex Schrad., Spic. Fl. Germ. 58. 1794. Sphagnum nemoreum Scop., Fl. Carniol., ed. 2, 305. 1772.

Sphagnum capillifolium, the red bogmoss, northern peat moss, acute-leaved bog-moss, or small red peat moss, is a species of peat moss native to Canada, the northern United States, Greenland, and Europe. Small red peat moss can be distinguished by its sweeping, outward-curving branches that resemble tresses.