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Sphagnum warnstorfii
Branch leaves of Sphagnum warnstorfii are distinguished by the very small, strongly ringed pores on the convex surface of the upper hyaline cells of the branch leaves. This character is best seen in branches of the capitulum, however hanging branches lower down the stem may not have these small pores, and thus are not distinguishable from those of other species of the section Acutifolium. Association with Tomenthypnum nitens can be used to suggest the identity of this species.
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L to R: branch leaf, stem leaf, concave cells, convex cells |
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| Habit | Slender green to purplish-red plants, with one conspicuous pendent branch visible between capitulum arms. |
| Stems | with a non-porose hyalodermis, uncolored to pinkish. |
| Leaves | branch leaves ovate-acuminate, fimbriate at apex, clearly ranked and seriate; stem leaves long-lingulate, without pores or fibrils. |
| Leaf Cells | green cells trianglar, exposed on convex surface, pores on convex surface along sides of cells, small and strongly ringed in upper 1/3, larger below, on concave surface a few large, indistinct, pores in center of cell. |
| Alar Cells | |
| Habitat | Occurring on lawns and low hummocks in rich fens of the boreal forest, becoming less frequent northward and coastward. |
| Common Associates | Often associated with Tomenthypnum nitens and Aulacomnium palustre. In rich fens, as pH decreases above the water table, low hummocks and hummock sides are often dominated by S. warnstorfii, however high hummocks may have S. fuscum. |
pH Meter
