Greater Peat Moss

Plants moderate-sized to robust, fairly weak-stemmed, lax in submersed forms, ± sprawling in emergent froms; golden brown to dark brown; capitulum weakly 5-radiate, branches straight to strongly laterally curved. Stems green to pale brown, superficial cortex only weakly differentiated. Stem leaves triangular-lingulate, 0.8-1.4 mm, spreading to appressed; apex acute to narrowly obtuse, hyaline cells nonseptate and fibrillose near apex. Branches unranked or weakly 5-ranked, straight to strongly curved, leaves moderately elongated at distal end. Branch fascicles with 2 spreading and 1-2 pendent branches. Branch stems green but sometimes reddish at proximal end, with cortex enlarged with conspicuous retort cells. Branch leaves ovate-lanceolate to narrowly ovate-lanceolate, 1.8-3.4 mm; straight to strongly subsecund; weakly undulate and recurved when dry; margins entire; hyaline cells on convex surface with 1-2 free pores per fibril interval, concave surface aporose or rarely with a few wall thinnings in cell ends and angles; chlorophyllous cells trapezoidal in transverse section and narrowly exposed on concave surface. Sexual condition dioicous. Spores 33-40 µm.

Sphagnum cuspidatum var. majus Russow, Arch. Naturk. Liv- Ehst- Kurlands, Ser. 2, Biol. Naturk. 7: 136. 1865