Sphagnum splendens

Maass

Bryologist 70: 193, figs. 1–4. 1967,.

Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 76. Mentioned on page 47, 62, 64, 66, 67.

Plants moderate-sized, pale-brown and shiny, capitulum well defined. Stems yellowish, superficial cortex of moderately well differentiated. Stem-leaves triangular, 0.7–0.9 mm, appressed to stem; apex apiculate; hyaline cells efibrillose and nonseptate. Branches moderately tapering, leaves only moderately larger at branch tips. Branch fascicles with 2 spreading and 2 pendent branches. Branch stems green; cortex enlarged with conspicuous retort cells. Branch leaves ovatelanceolate, 1–1.4 mm; straight; stiff, not undulate and slightly recurved; margins entire; hyaline cells efibrillose, convex surface with 1 pore per cell at cell apex, on concave surface with round wall-thinnings in the cell ends and angles; chlorophyllous cells triangular in transverse-section and well enclosed to just reaching concave surface. Sexual condition unknown. Spores unknown.


Habitat: Moderate elevations

Distribution

V27 60-distribution-map.gif

Known only from the type locality, Que.

Discussion

Sporophytes of Sphagnum splendens are unknown. The lack of any fibrils in the branch leaf hyaline cells gives it an unusually glossy appearance that should make it readily identifiable in the field. The facts that it differs from S. fallax in only one character and that it is known only from the type locality make S. splendens questionably distinct to some observers. More investigation is needed.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Sphagnum splendens"
Cyrus B. McQueen† +  and Richard E. Andrus +
differentiated +
broad +  and narrow +
more slender and delicate +
ratio +, length +  and width +
not undulate +  and ovatelanceolate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.14 cm1.4 mm <br />0.0014 m <br />) +
pendent +  and spreading +
tapering +
slender +
differentiated +
chlorophyllous +  and efibrillose +
alternating +
strengthened +
enclosed +
nonornamented +
triangular +
enlarged +
fibrillose +
spherical +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (?) +
monoicous +, dioicous +  and sexual +
enlarged +
Known only from the type locality +  and Que. +
monoicous +, dioicous +  and sexual +
conspicuous +
isophyllous +, hemiisophyllous +  and anisophyllous +
Moderate elevations +
0.07 cm0.7 mm <br />7.0e-4 m <br /> (0.09 cm0.9 mm <br />9.0e-4 m <br />) +
triangular +
larger +
inconspicuous +  and conspicuous +
tetrahedral +
septate +, porose +  and efibrillose +
triangular;lingulate +
usually smaller +
differentiated +
with a few to numerous pores or pseudopores +  and porose +
concave +  and convex +
Sphagnum sect. Mollusca +
Sphagnum splendens +
Sphagnum sect. Cuspidata +
species +
swollen +