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Sphagnum majus
The lack of pores on the concave surface coupled with numerous rather large medial pores on the convex surface of the branch leaf hyaline cells and blunt, oblong stem leaves are identifying features. In the field the dark color and habitat are helpful characters.
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Above, whole cells |
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| Habit | Plants medium-sized, floating or in loose carpets, dark brown to mottled reddish-green, with a small apical bud and 1-(2) pendent branches visible between capitulum arms. |
| Stems | without dark core, hyalodermis not or poorly developed. |
| Leaves | ovate-lanceolate, gradually acuminate and narrowly truncate at apex; stem leaves oblong, concave and inflexed, with leaves appearing triangular, blunt and rounded, hyaline cells with a few fibrils in upper part, without pores. |
| Leaf Cells | Hyaline cells long, with many unringed, large pores in 1-2 medial rows (not in contact with cell edges), without pores on the concave surface (or occasionally with 1-3 small faint, pores at the cell corners, green cells isosceles triangular, exposed on the convex surface. |
| Alar Cells | |
| Habitat | Floating and emergent in poor fens, in collapse scars, and in internal lawns. Sphagnum majus occurs in more minerotrophic habitats then does S. cuspidatum. |
| Common Associates | Often found with S. jensenii, also sometimes with S. balticum and S. obtusum. |
pH Meter
