1d. Sphagnum sect. Squarrosa (Russow) Schimper, Syn. Musc. Eur. ed. 2. 835. 1876.
Sphagnum [unranked] Squarrosa Russow, Beitr. Torfm., 33. 1865
Plants moderate-sized to robust, with distinct capitulum; green,yellowish brown. Stems green to dark reddish brown, superficial cortex of 2-4 layers of efibrillose, non-ornamented, enlarged, thin-walled, aporose, rectangular cells. Stem leaves ovate, ovate-lingulate to lingulate; with broad, fringed apex; little or no border along margins or base; hyaline cells rhomboid, efibrillose, non-ornamented, aporose, usually nonseptate, with resorption gaps on exterior surface. Branches strongly dimorphic, pendent branches thinner but about same length as spreading branches. Branch stems green, with cortex surrounded by 1-2 layers of efibrillose, non-ornamented, enlarged, thin-walled cells, some cells apically porose with inconspicuous necks. Branch leaves strongly squarrose or spreading, ovate, ovate-hastate or ovate-lanceolate, margins entire, apex involute and smooth; hyaline cells fibrillose; with large, round pores at cell ends and along commissures, sometimes with faint papillae on interior walls; chlorophyllous cells ovate-triangular, elliptical to ovate-elliptical in transverse section, more broadly exposed on convex surface, end walls not thickened. Sexual condition monoicous or dioicous. Capsule 2 mm or more, with scattered pseudomata. Spores less than 30 µm, both surfaces smooth to finely papillose; proximal laesura more than 0.5 spore radius.
Species 4 (4 in the flora): North America, Eurasia, Pacific Islands (New Zealand).
