Sphagnum

This genus is exceptionally difficult to identify in the field, and many species can only be reliably separated with a microscope.
The Sphagnum flora by Bouwman contains a good field key (in Dutch).

Identification

The following table identifies the genus to the level of the sections.


Section	Feature	Species

Sphagnum	Plants large and swolen Branch leaves with hooded apices (ends) Stem leaves obtuse (blunt), lingulate (toungue-shaped)	affine magellanicum paulstre papillosum

Rigida	Compact Minute stem leaves Hanging branches very different	compactum strictum

Squarrosa	Stem leaves large and lingulate (toungue-shaped) Branch leaves not hooded	squarrosum teres

Subsecunda	Sometimes curved, often swollen branches Often copper coloured Branch leaves not hooded At least some stem leaves spreading	contortum denticulatum inundatum platyphyllum subsecundum

Cuspida	Branch leaves recurved when dry, narrow Stem leaves hanging	angustifolium balticum cuspidatum fallax flexuosum majus obtusum pulchrum riparium tenellum

Acutifolia	Pink-red (often) Slender plants Branches not swollen Hanging and spreading branches different S tem leaves erect	capillifolium fimbriatum fuscum molle quinquefarium russowii subnitens

Photgraphs

Sphagnum capillifolium
Sphagnum capillifolium
Sphagnum cuspidatum
Sphagnum denticulatum
Sphagnum fallax
Sphagnum fimbriatum
Sphagnum girgensohnii
Sphagnum magellanicum
Sphagnum palustre
Sphagnum papillosum
Sphagnum riparium
Sphagnum russowii
Sphagnum squarrosum
Sphagnum subnitens
Sphagnum teres

Sphagnum capillifolium =S. nemorum Stijfveenmos Red bog-moss Spitzblättriges Torfmoos	Sphagnum capillifolium Stijfveenmos Red bog-moss Spitzblättriges Torfmoos	Sphagnum cuspidatum Waterveenmos Feathery bog-moss Spiess-Torfmoos	Sphagnum denticulatum (=Spagnum auriculatum) Geoord veenmos Cow-horn bog-moss Geöhtes Torfmoos	Sphagnum fallax (=S. recurvum) Fraai veenmos Flat-topped bog-moss Trügerusches Torfmoos	Sphagnum fimbriatum Gewimperd veenmos Fringed bog-moss Gefranstes Torfmoos	Sphagnum girgensohnii Gerafeld veenmos Girgenshon's bog-moss Girensohnsches Torfmoos
Sphagnum magellanicum Hoogveenmos Magellanic bog-moss Mittleres Torfmoos	Sphagnum palustre Gewoon veenmos Blunt-leaved bog-moss Kahnblättriges Torfmoos	Sphagnum papillosum Wrattig veenmos Papillose bog-moss Warziges Torfmoos	Sphagnum riparium Uitgebeten veenmos Cleft bog-moss Ufer-Torfmoos	Sphagnum russowii Violet veenmos Russow's bog-moss Derbes Torfmoos	Sphagnum squarrosum Haakveenmos Spiky bog-moss Sparriges Torfmoos	Sphagnum subnitens Glanzend veenmos Lustrous bog-moss Feder-Torfmoos	Sphagnum teres Sparrig veenmos Rigid bog-moss Rundes Torfmoos