Sphagnum fallax(H. Klinggr.) H. Klinggr. (redirected from: Sphagnum brevifolium (Lindb. ex Braithw.) Röll)
Family: Sphagnaceae
sphagnum
[Sphagnum amblyphyllum var. brevifolium (Lindb. ex Braithw.) H. Schmidt, moreSphagnum apiculatum H. Lindb. in Bauer, Sphagnum apiculatum var. fallax (H. Klinggr.) C.E.O. Jensen, Sphagnum brevifolium (Lindb. ex Braithw.) Röll, Sphagnum cuspidatum subsp. brevifolium (Lindb. ex Braithw.) Bott., Sphagnum cuspidatum subsp. fallax (H. Klinggr.) J.J. Amann, Sphagnum cuspidatum var. brevifolium Lindb. ex Braithw., Sphagnum cuspidatum var. fallax H. Klinggr., Sphagnum fallax subsp. isoviitae (Flatberg) M.O. Hill, Sphagnum fallax var. brevifolium (Lindb. ex Braithw.) Lönnell & K. Hassel, Sphagnum fallax var. isoviitae (Flatberg) Lönnell & K. Hassel, Sphagnum flexuosum var. fallax (Klinggr.) M. O. Hill ex A. J. E. Sm., Sphagnum isoviitae Flatberg, Sphagnum recurvum subsp. mucronatum Russow, Sphagnum recurvum var. brevifolium (Lindb. ex Braithw.) Warnst., Sphagnum recurvum var. mucronatum (Russow) Warnst.]
Plants small and slender to moderate-sized, soft, not very compact; pale yellow, yellowish brown to brown; capitulum flat to somewhat convex, not 5-radiate to somewhat 5-radiate. Stems pale yellow to pale green, sometimes with reddish portions, superficial cortex of 2-3 layers of clearly differentiated cells. Stem leaves triangular to lingulate-triangular, apex apiculate, acute and sometimes slightly obtuse, spreading or sometimes appressed; hyaline cells nonseptate and often fibrillose at leaf apex. Branches straight to distinctly curved, leaves unranked to 5-ranked, leaves not greatly elongate at branch distal end. Branch fascicles with 2 spreading and 1-2 pendent branches. Branch stems with cortex enlarged with conspicuous retort cells, sometimes reddish at proximal end. Branch leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, greater than 1.2 mm, often subsecund, slightly undulate and slightly recurved when dry; margin entire; hyaline cells on convex surface with 1 pore per cell in apical end, on concave surface with round wall thinnings in the cell ends and angles; chlorophyllous cells equilateral to isosceles-triangular, well-enclosed on the concave surface. Sexual condition dioicous. Spores not seen.
Ecology not presently understood due to past confusion with other species; low to moderate elevations; Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), Que.; Alaska, Maine, Md., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.Y., Vt.; Europe.
Details of the distribution of Sphagnum brevifolium are unclear because of confusion with S. fallax and S. isoviitae. This seems to be a species of poor to medium fens, where it occurs in depressions and floating mats; it does not appear to form extensive fast-growing mats as do S. fallax, S. isoviitae, and S. pacificum. Sphagnum brevifolium is one of five species in the S. recurvum complex with apiculate stem leaves. On the Pacific coast it seemingly co-occurs only with S. pacificum, from which it differs in having branch leaves less sharply recurved and more strongly 5-ranked. In eastern North America it is quite uncommon but can occur with both S. fallax and S. isoviitae of S. recurvum, in the broad sense. Sphagnum fallax has more sharply recurved branch leaves. Sphagnum splendens has a distinct shiny look. The much more common S. isoviitae has a distinctly flatter capitulum, narrower branch leaves and wider stem leaves. In fact, the relatively broad branch leaves of S. brevifolium sometimes can give it the appearance of a slender S. pulchrum, but the latter has much more strongly 5-ranked branch leaves and lacks paired pendent branch buds. See also discussion under 22. S. angustifolium.
Plants moderate-sized and moderately weak-stemmed to moderately stiff; green, brownish green to brown; capitulum flat-topped and 5-radiate, terminal bud often visible. Stems pale green, rarely with red coloration, superficial cortex of 2 layers of moderately to well differentiated cells. Stem leaves triangular to lingulate-triangular, equal to or more than 0.8 mm, spreading to appressed; apex acute to apiculate, hyaline cells mostly efibrillose and nonseptate. Branches ± straight and somewhat tapered, usually 5-ranked, leaves not greatly elongated at branch distal end. Branch fascicles with 2 spreading and 2-3 pendent branches. Branch stems green and often reddish at proximal end, with cortex enlarged with conspicuous retort cells. Branch leaves narrowly ovate-lanceolate, greater than 1.2 mm, straight, slightly undulate and weakly recurved when dry, margins entire; hyaline cells on convex surface with 1 pore per cell in apical end, on concave surface with round wall thinnings in the cell ends and angles; chlorophyllous cells in transverse section triangular to ovate-triangular and well-enclosed on the concave surface. Sexual condition dioicous. Spores 24-33 µm; finely papillose on the superficial surface.
Forming carpets in a wide variety of poor to medium fen habitats of both mire edge and mire wide character, not found in ombrotrophic mires; low to moderate elevations; Alta., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., Que.; Conn., Ind., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., Vt., Va., W.Va.; Europe.
Sporophytes are uncommon in Sphagnum isoviitae. See discussion under 26. S. brevifolium and 28. S. fallax for distinction from these similar species. Sphagnum isoviitae has no range overlap with S. pacificum, the other North American species of the S. recurvum complex with apiculate stem leaves; the sharply recurved branch leaves of the latter, however, would separate it easily in any case. Spore features are those given by Flatberg.
Plants: moderate-sized, fairly stiff-stemmed; green, brownish green, pale yellow, golden yellow, yellow and brown; capitulum hemispherical and not 5-radiate to somewhat 5-radiate in shade-grown or wet-grown forms. Stems: pale green to pale brown, superficial cortex of 2 layers of moderately differentiated cells. Stem: leaves triangular to lingulate-triangular, 0.8–1.2 mm, mostly appressed to the stem, apex acute to apiculate, hyaline cells mostly efibrillose and nonseptate. Branches: straight, mostly unranked, but can be 5-ranked in wet-growing forms, leaves little elongated at distal branch ends. Branch: fascicles with 2 spreading and 2–3 pendent branches. Branch: stems green but proximal end sometimes red, with cortex enlarged with conspicuous retort cells. Branch: leaves ovate-lanceolate, greater than 1.2 mm, straight, undulate and sharply recurved when dry, margins entire; hyaline cells on convex surface with usually 1 round pore per cell at apical end, on concave side with round wall thinnings in the cell ends and angles; chlorophyllous cells triangular and just reaching or slightly enclosed within the concave surface. Sexual: condition dioicous. Spores: 25–31 µm; proximal surface finely papillose, distal surface pusticulate with bifurcated Y-mark sculpture; proximal laesura less than 0.5 spore radius.
Widespread in poor fen habitats, often as a pioneer species in extensive mats, occasionally in ombrotrophic mires at hummock bases. low to moderate elevations. N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Conn., Del., Ill., Ind., Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va., Europe.
Sphagnum fallax can be distinguished from the closely related S. isoviitae by its sharply recurved branch leaves, as opposed to the leaves of the latter only slightly reflexed at their tips. See also discussion under 26. S. brevifolium and 46. S. splendens.