Identification Guide - SPHAGNUM MOSSES
PART 3 - Advanced Guide: Sphagnum fimbriatum
Sphagnum fimbriatum
Sphagnum fimbriatum
Microscopic characteristics:
- Delicate species; smaller than either of the above.
- Branches thin and rather wiry.
- Typically a pale yellowish green colour throughout.
- Relatively “hard to the touch” conical bud in the centre of the capitulum. This may appear paler in tone and therefore quite prominent to the eye.
- Very distinctive stem leaves: broad, overlapping and broken at the tips. If the capitulum is carefully pinched off a “coronet-like” grouping of these leaves can be seen. This feature may be visible to the naked eye but is very obvious through a hand lens.
- This species is quite often fertile in which case it typically produces several spore capsules on individual stems.
- Forms loose patches, mats and sometimes raised "cushions" often in gaps between coarse moorland vegetation.
- The shoots frequently branch and mat together. Again very widespread in mesotrophic environments.
Microscopic characteristics:
- Broad, truncated stem leaves, heavily eroded with exposed fibrous ends
Guide prepared by Paul Ardron, Ian Rotherham & Chris Percy
Supported by the British Ecological Society - Peatlands SIG and Sheffield Hallam University
Unless otherwise stated, all images © Paul Ardron. No images may be copied, stored or reproduced elsewhere without written permission.
All photographs are from UK locations
Supported by the British Ecological Society - Peatlands SIG and Sheffield Hallam University
Unless otherwise stated, all images © Paul Ardron. No images may be copied, stored or reproduced elsewhere without written permission.
All photographs are from UK locations
