Sphagnum

Sporophytes are rare in Sphagnum lenense. This species is easily distinguished from the similar S. lindbergii by its compact growth form and reddish brown color. Sphagnum lenense also is a hummock former in the tundra whereas S. lindbergii forms carpets.

Plants medium-sized, orange brown to nearly copper-colored when wet, shiny, reddish brown when dry, in compact tufts. Stem cortex in 3–4 layers, hyaline cells thin-walled, without fibrils and pores; central cylinder brownish. Stem leaves 0.6–0.8 mm × 0.5–0.6 mm, broadly oblong-ligulate, strongly lacerate at the apex, forming a sieve-like, triangular area, sometimes split down to the middle; borders narrowly differentiated; hyaline cells undivided, without fibrils and pores, often with membrane pleats. Branches in fascicles of 4–5, with 2 spreading. Branch leaves 0.8–1.1 mm × 0.5–0.7 mm, more or less appressed, spirally arranged, oblong-lanceolate, blunt and denticulate at the apex, bordered by 1–2 rows of linear cells; hyaline cells with a few rounded pores at the ends and along commissural rows on the ventral surface, with rather large, rounded pores at one or both ends, numerous small, elliptic pores along commissural rows on the dorsal surface; green cells in cross section trapezoidal, exposed more broadly on the dorsal surface. Dioicous. Sporophytes not seen.

Plants compact, short-branched and small; strongly reddish to golden brown, glossy when dry; flat-topped capitulum with moderately differentiated terminal bud. Stems dark brown; super-ficial cortex of 3-4 layers of enlarged thin-walled cells. Stem leaves lingulate,small, equal to or less than 0.8 mm, appressed to stem; apex with strong lacerate split in the middle; hyaline cells efibrillose, aporose, and nonseptate. Branches strongly 5-ranked, short and blunt, not much elongated at distal end. Branch fascicles with 2 spreading and 2-3 pendent branches. Branch stems green, with cortex enlarged with retort cells. Branch leaves ovate; usually less than 1.5 mm; stiff and slightly reflexed, straight to slightly subsecund; margins entire; hyaline cells moderately long and narrow (6-8:1), convex surface with one small round pore per cell at apex and numerous pseudopores on the margin, concave surface with large round wall thinnings in the cell angles and ends; chlorophyllous cells triangular in transverse section, with apex reaching concave surface. Sexual condition unknown. Spores not seen.

Distribution: China, Russia (Siberia), Alaska, Greenland, North America, and northern Europe.

Habitat: in open sedgy bogs.

Sphagnum lindbergii ssp. lenense (H. Lindb. ex Pohle) Podp., Consp. Musci Eur. 33. 1954.

Sphagnum lindbergii var. microphyllum Warnstorf, Hedwigia 32: 16. 1893