Sphagnum squarrosum

Crome

Samml. Deut. Laubm., 24. 1803,.

Synonyms: Sphagnum squarrosum var. imbricatum Schimper
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 59. Mentioned on page 57, 58, 83, 85, 97, 101.

Plants robust, stiff; green, pale green, yellow-green; large terminal bud; typically as loose carpets in coniferous forests. Stem green to redbrown; 2–3 superficial cortical layers. Stem-leaves shorter than branch leaves, ovate-lingulate to oblong-lingulate, 1.6–1.8 × 1–1.2 mm; hyaline cells mostly nonseptate. Branches long and tapering with distinct squarrose spreading leaves, often terete in tundra forms. Branch fascicles with 2 spreading and 2–3 pendent branches. Branch stems with 1–2 layers of cortical cells. Branch leaves larger than stem-leaves, 1.9–2.8 mm, conspicuously squarrose from ovate-hastate base and abruptly narrowed 1/2–1/3 distance from apex into involute-concave acumen, often terete in tundra forms; hyaline cells convex on both surfaces, nonringed pores at ends and corners of cells, ringed pores on concave surface (4–8/cell) and nonringed pores (2–4/cell) on convex surface, internal commissural walls smooth or indistinctly papillose, chlorophyllous cells ovate triangular with widest part at or close to the convex surface. Sexual condition monoicous. Spores 17–30 µm; proximal surface finely papillose, distal surface smooth with raised bifurcated Y-mark sculpture; proximal laesura more than 0.5 spore radius.


Phenology: Sporophytes abundant, capsules mature early to mid summer.
Habitat: Forming loose carpets in rich habitats such as wet coniferous forests, Thuja swamps, karrs, medium fens, and stream margins
Elevation: low to high elevations

Distribution

Greenland, Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon, Alaska, Ariz., Calif., Colo., Conn., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Oreg., Pa., S.D, Tenn., Vt., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Wyo., Eurasia, Pacific Islands (New Zealand)

Discussion

In its typical robust form with strongly squarrose branch leaves, Sphagnum squarrosum is unmistakeable. Smaller forms such as occur in the higher mountains may be difficult to identify accurately without careful examination of microscopic details. In the tundra there sometimes occur large, terete forms of S. squarrosum but these are usually considerably more robust than S. teres. See also discussion under 14. S. strictum.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"thinner" is not a number.

... more about "Sphagnum squarrosum"
involute-concave +
fringed +
Cyrus B. McQueen† +  and Richard E. Andrus +
ovate-hastate +
Squarrosa +
differentiated +
ratio +, length +  and width +
terete +  and narrowed +
0.19 cm1.9 mm <br />0.0019 m <br /> (0.28 cm2.8 mm <br />0.0028 m <br />) +
pendent +  and spreading +
2 +  and 3 +
terete +  and tapering +
more slender +
differentiated +
chlorophyllous +
alternating +
elliptical +  and ovate-elliptical +
strengthened +
nonornamented +
1 (?) +  and 2 (?) +
monoicous +  and sexual +
triangular +, ovate +  and convex +
enlarged +
fibrillose +
spherical +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (?) +
monoicous +, dioicous +  and sexual +
Greenland +, Alta. +, B.C. +, Man. +, N.B. +, Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.) +, N.W.T. +, N.S. +, Nunavut +, Ont. +, P.E.I. +, Que. +, Sask. +, Yukon +, Alaska +, Ariz. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Conn. +, Idaho +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Maine +, Mass. +, Mich. +, Minn. +, Mont. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Oreg. +, Pa. +, S.D +, Tenn. +, Vt. +, Wash. +, W.Va. +, Wis. +, Wyo. +, Eurasia +  and Pacific Islands (New Zealand) +
low to high elevations +
dioicous +, monoicous +  and sexual +
conspicuous +
isophyllous +, hemiisophyllous +  and anisophyllous +
Forming loose carpets in rich habitats such as wet coniferous forests, Thuja swamps, karrs, medium fens, and stream margins +
papillose +  and smooth +
distinct +
spreading +  and squarrose +
inconspicuous +
Sporophytes abundant, capsules mature early to mid summer. +
Samml. Deut. Laubm., +
tetrahedral +
septate +, porose +  and efibrillose +
1.6mm;1.8mm +
ovate-lingulate;oblong-lingulate +
1mm +  and 1.2mm +
green;redbrown +
2 +  and 3 +
differentiated +
smooth;finely papillose +
convex +  and concave +
Sphagnum squarrosum var. imbricatum +
Sphagnum squarrosum +
Sphagnum sect. Squarrosa +
species +
swollen +
yellow-green +, pale green +  and green +
stiff +  and robust +