Sphagnales

Belongs within: Bryophyta.
Contains: Sphagnum subgenus Sphagnum.

The Sphagnum mosses are, together with the Tasmanian Ambuchanania leucobryoides, the sister group to all other living mosses. They have thalloid protonemata, leafy shoots lacking rhizoids, and the capsules are not held above the gametophytes by a seta but by an extension of the gametophyte itself called the pseudopod. The capsules are globose and open explosively rather than through a peristome (Smith 2004). The known fossil record of Sphagnales extends back to the Late Permian, where they are represented by the genus Protosphagnum (Bateman et al. 1998). Modern species are all included in the genus Sphagnum, divided between several subgenera. Members of subgenera other than Cymbifolia have the stem leaves bordered (Dixon 1924).

Beyond the peat

Published 10 August 2026

To most members of the general public, I would suspect that the broad spectrum of moss diversity goes largely unnoticed. As far as most people are probably concerned, a moss is a moss is a moss. But there is one likely exception. Thanks to their use as an absorbent material in hygiene products and elsewhere, sphagnum mosses are likely to be familiar if only by name. Sphagnums are also significant components of peat bogs and other waterlogged habitats; it has been estimated that about 30% of the terrestrial pool of organic carbon is currently locked in boreal peatlands (Shaw et al. 2016).

As a group, sphagnums are readily distinguished from other mosses, and indeed the genus Sphagnum (together with a handful of smaller genera) anchors the sister lineage to all other mosses. Sphagnum species are generally large by moss standards and lack rhizoids anchoring them to their substrate. Branches are borne in fasciculate bundles, and leaves are characterised by a network of dimorphic cells: enlarged hyaline cells, dead at maturity, are surrounded by smaller green cells (it is these hyaline cells that make the sphagnum so absorbent). In most mosses, the sporophyte has a stalk supporting the capsule, but in Sphagnum this stalk is absent, and the capsule is instead raised by a pseudopodium from the parent gametophyte. Capsules open via an operculum that is released explosively as the capsule shrinks (Shaw et al. 2010).

Distinguishing taxa within the Sphagnum genus, however, is a far trickier proposition. Though about 250 Sphagnum species have been recognised worldwide, they are often variable in their features and require close examination for identification. Among the recognised subgroups of Sphagnum is the subgenus Rigida, including only five species but found nearly worldwide. Species of subgenus Rigida have branch leaves with denticulate margins, developing via resorption of border cells. The cells of the branch cortex are not dimorphic and all have a pore at the distal end (Smith 2004). Two species of subgenus Rigida are both widespread in Europe and North America: Sphagnum strictum has green or pale brown stems with squarrose leaves, whereas S. compactum usually has dark brown or black stems with the leaves more or less appressed (Smith 2004). Despite its low diversity, subgenus Rigida may hold a significant place in Sphagnum evolution, as a phylogenetic analysis of the genus by Shaw et al. (2016) placed this subgenus as sister to all other species. Species of subgenus Rigida are found on wet heaths, in blanket bogs and around rocks, but are not as significant a component of peatlands as other Sphagnum species. Perhaps they diverged before the genus became associated with the habitat that would make them famous.

Systematics of Sphagnales

Characters (Smith 2004): Leaves unistratose. Antheridia globose, borne singly in axils of branch leaves. Antheridia in groups of one to five at apex of short lateral branch.

<==Sphagnales [Protosphagnales, Sphagneae, Sphagnidae]
    |--Protosphagnum nervatumBC98, E93
    |--Vorcutannularia plicataE93
    |--JunjagiaE93
    |--Palaeosphagnum Ignatov 1990E93
    `--Sphagnum Linnaeus 1753 [Sphagnaceae, Sphagnideae]SK02
         |  i. s.: S. australe Mitt. 1859SK02 (see below for synonymy)
         |         S. cristatum Hampe 1874 (see below for synonymy)SK02
         |         S. dominii Kavina 1916SK02
         |         S. falcatulum Besch. 1885SK02 (see below for synonymy)
         |         S. fuscovinosum Seppelt & Crum 1999SK02
         |         S. lescuriiWM14
         |         S. meridenseJ87
         |         S. novo-zelandicum Mitt. 1859SK02 (see below for synonymy)
         |         S. perichaetiale Hampe 1847 [incl. S. beccarii Hampe 1872, S. vitjianum Schimp. ex Warnst. 1891]SK02
         |--S. subg. SphagnumOZB-O03
         |--S. subg. Isocladus (Lindb.) Braithw. 1875OZB-O03
         |    |--S. sect. Acutifolia Wilson 1855OZB-O03, S04
         |    |    |--S. capillifolium (Ehrn.) Hedw. 1782S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |    |  i. s.: S. c. var. tenerum (Sull. & Lesq. ex Sull.) Crum 1975OZB-O03 [=S. molle var. tenerumD24]
         |    |    |    |--S. c. ssp. capillifolium [incl. S. acutifolium, S. capillaceum]S04
         |    |    |    `--S. c. ssp. rubellum (Wilson) Hill in Blockeel & Long 1998S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. fimbriatum Wilson in Hook. & Wilson 1846S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. fuscum (Schimp.) Klinggr. 1872S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. girgensohnii Russow 1865S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. junghuhnianumS04
         |    |    |--S. molle Sull. 1845S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. quinquefarium (Lindb. ex Braithw.) Warnst. 1886 [=S. acutifolium var. quinquefarium]S04
         |    |    |--S. rubiginosumS04
         |    |    |--S. russowii Warnst. 1886S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. skyense Flatberg 1988S04
         |    |    |--S. subfulvum Sjörs 1944S04, OZB-O03
         |    |    |--S. subnitens Russow & Warnst. 1888S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |    |--S. s. var. subnitensS04
         |    |    |    `--S. s. var. ferrugineum (Flatberg) Hill in Blockeel & Long 1998S04
         |    |    `--S. warnstorfii Russow 1887 [incl. S. acutifolium var. gracile, S. warnstorfianum]S04
         |    |--S. sect. Cuspidata (Lindberg) Schlieph. ex Schimper 1876OZB-O03, S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. angustifolium (Jensen ex Russow) Jensen 1896S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. balticum (Russow) Russow ex Jensen 1890 [=S. recurvum ssp. balticum]S04
         |    |    |--S. cuspidatum Erhr. ex Hoffm. 1796D24, SK02 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |    |--S. c. var. cuspidatumD03
         |    |    |    |--S. c. var. microcarpumD03
         |    |    |    |--S. c. var. serrulatum (Schlieph.) Schlieph. 1882OZB-O03 [=S. serratum var. serrulatumSK02]
         |    |    |    `--S. c. var. torreyanumD24
         |    |    |--S. fallax (Klinggr.) Klinggr. 1880S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. flexuosum Dozy & Molk. 1851S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. jensenii Lindb. 1899OZB-O03
         |    |    |--S. lindbergii Schimp. ex Lindb. 1857S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. majus (Russow) Jensen 1890S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. obtusum Warnst. 1877S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    |--S. pulchrum (Lindb. ex Braithw.) Warnst. 1900S04 [=S. intermedium var. pulchrumD24]
         |    |    |--S. recurvumS04
         |    |    |--S. riparium Ångstr. 1864S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    |    `--S. tenellum (Brid.) Bory 1804S04 [incl. S. tenellum var. longifoliumD24, S. molluscumD24]
         |    |--S. sect. Polyclada (Jensen) Warnst. 1890OZB-O03
         |    |    `--S. wulfianum Girg. 1860 [incl. S. pycnocladum]OZB-O03
         |    |--S. sect. Squarrosa (Russow) Schimper 1876 [=S. [unranked] Squarrosa Russow 1865]OZB-O03
         |    |    |--S. squarrosum Crome 1803S04
         |    |    `--S. teres Ångstr. in Hartm. 1861S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    `--S. sect. Subsecunda (Lindberg) Schlieph. ex Schimper 1876OZB-O03, S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |         |--S. contortum Schultz 1819S04 [=S. subsecundum var. contortumD24, SK02; incl. S. laricinumS04]
         |         |    |--S. c. var. contortumD24
         |         |    |--S. ‘laricinum’ var cyclophyllumD24
         |         |    `--S. ‘laricinum’ var. teretiusculumD24
         |         |--S. denticulatum Brid. 1826S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |         |--S. inundatum Russow 1894 (see below for synonymy)S04
         |         |--S. platyphyllum (Lindb. ex Braithw.) Sull. ex Warnst. 1884S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |         `--S. subsecundum Nees in Sturm 1819S04 [incl. S. subsecundum var. simplicissimumD24]
         |              |--S. s. var. subsecundumSK02
         |              |--S. s. var. obesumD24
         |              `--S. s. var. turgidumD24
         `--S. subg. Rigida (Lindberg) Eddy 1977OZB-O03 (see below for synonymy)
              |--S. compactum Lam & DC. 1805S04 (see below for synonymy)
              `--S. strictum Sull. 1845S04
Nomina nuda: Sphagnum bicolor Hampe ex Broth. & Watts 1912SK02
             Sphagnum cymbifolium var. carneopallidum Warnst. ex Watts 1899SK02
             Sphagnum australe var. grandiosum Warnst. ex Weymouth 1903SK02
             Sphagnum grandifolium var. brachycladium f. laxifolium Warnst. ex Watts 1912 non S. novo-zelandicum var. laxifolium [=S. grandifolium var. laxifolium Warnst. ex Watts 1912]SK02
             Sphagnum subsecundum var. macrophyllum Müll.Hal. ex Watts & Whitel. 1902 nec S. moorei var. macrophyllum nec S. wattsii var. macrophyllumSK02
             Sphagnum rigescens Warmst. in Dusén 1903D03

Sphagnum sect. Cuspidata (Lindberg) Schlieph. ex Schimper 1876^{OZB-O03, S04} [=S. [unranked] Cuspidata Lindberg 1862^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum subg. Rigida (Lindberg) Eddy 1977^OZB-O03 [=S. [unranked] Rigida Lindberg 1862^OZB-O03, S. sect. Rigida (Lindberg) Schliephachke ex Limpricht 1885^S04]

Sphagnum sect. Subsecunda (Lindberg) Schlieph. ex Schimper 1876^{OZB-O03, S04} [=S. [unranked] Subsecunda Lindberg 1862^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum angustifolium (Jensen ex Russow) Jensen 1896^S04 [incl. S. apiculatum ssp. parvifolium^OZB-O03, S. intermedium var. parvifolium^{D24, S04}, S. recurvum var. roellii^OZB-O03, S. recurvum var. tenue non S. fimbriatum var. tenue^S04]

Sphagnum australe Mitt. 1859^SK02 [=S. antarcticum var. australe (nom. illeg.)^SK02; incl. S. antarcticum^SK02, S. campbellianum (nom. inv.)^SK02, S. papillosum var. confertum^{D24, SK02}, S. antarcticum var. densissimum^SK02, S. falcirameum (nom. inv.)^SK02, S. antarcticum var. fluctuans^SK02, S. macrorigidum^SK02, S. orthocladum (nom. inv.)^SK02, S. weymouthii^SK02]

Sphagnum capillifolium (Ehrn.) Hedw. 1782^S04 [incl. S. acutifolium var. alpinum^OZB-O03, S. acutifolium var. deflexum^OZB-O03, S. contortum var. intermedium^{SK02, OZB-O03}, S. nemoreum (n. d.)^OZB-O03, S. acutifolium var. purpureum^OZB-O03, S. acutifolium var. roseum^OZB-O03, S. acutifolium var. schliephackeanum^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum capillifolium ssp. rubellum (Wilson) Hill in Blockeel & Long 1998^S04 [=S. rubellum Wilson 1855^OZB-O03, S. acutifolium var. rubellum^D24; incl. S. acutiforme^OZB-O03, S. nemoreum var. leptocladum^OZB-O03, S. wattsii var. leptocladum^SK02, S. rubellum var. subtile^OZB-O03, S. acutifolium var. tenellum non S. tenellum^OZB-O03, S. capillifolium var. tenellum^S04, S. acutifolium var. versicolor^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum compactum Lam & DC. 1805^S04 [=S. cymbifolium var. compactum^OZB-O03, S. rigidum var. compactum^SK02; incl. S. compactum var. imbricatum non S. imbricatum^OZB-O03, S. compactum var. rigidum^{D24, S04}, S. compactum var. squarrosum non S. squarrosum^OZB-O03, S. rigidum var. squarrosum^D24, S. antarcticum var. subsquarrosum^SK02, S. compactum var. subsquarrosum^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum cristatum Hampe 1874 [incl. S. decipiens var. obovatum f. anocladum, S. grandifolium var. brachycladum Warnst. 1911, S. cymbophyllum (nom. inv.), S. decipiens, S. grandifolium var. densum Warnst. 1911, S. grandifolium Warnst. 1900, S. leionotum, S. maximum, S. decipiens var. obovatum, S. pachycladum (n. n.), S. decipiens var. rotundatum, S. decipiens var. obovatum f. squarrulosum, S. wardellense, S. whiteleggei, S. wilcoxii]^SK02

Sphagnum cuspidatum Erhr. ex Hoffm. 1796^{D24, SK02} [incl. S. cuspidatum f. falcatum^OZB-O03, S. novo-zelandicum var. laxifolium^{SK02, OZB-O03}, S. laxifolium var. monocladum^OZB-O03, S. cuspidatum f. plumosum^OZB-O03, S. cuspidatum f. plumulosum^OZB-O03, S. cuspidatum var. speciosum^OZB-O03, S. subsecundum var. squarrosulum non S. cymbifolium var. squarrosulum^D24, S. cuspidatum f. submersum^OZB-O03, S. subsecundum var. viride^{D24, S04}, S. viride Flatberg 1988^S04]

Sphagnum denticulatum Brid. 1826^S04 [incl. S. subsecundum var. auriculatum^{D24, S04}, S. bavaricum^OZB-O03, S. gravetii^OZB-O03, S. subsecundum var. isophyllum^OZB-O03, S. subsecundum var. rufescens (Nees & Hornsch.) Huebener 1833^{SK02, S04, SK02}]

Sphagnum falcatulum Besch. 1885^SK02 [=S. cuspidatum var. falcatulum^D03; incl. S. brotherusii^SK02, S. drepanocladum^SK02, S. lancifolium^SK02, S. wattsii var. macrophyllum non S. moorei var. macrophyllum^SK02, S. naumannii^SK02, S. brotherusii var. plumosulum^SK02, S. rodwayi^SK02, S. scortechinii^SK02, S. serratifolium^SK02, S. trichophyllum^SK02, S. wattsii^SK02]

Sphagnum fallax (Klinggr.) Klinggr. 1880^S04 [=S. cuspidatum var. fallax^OZB-O03; incl. S. apiculatum^OZB-O03, S. cuspidatum var. brevifolium^D24, S. recurvum var. brevifolium^S04, S. fallax ssp. isoviitae^S04, S. apiculatum var. majus non S. majus (Russow) Jensen 1890^OZB-O03, S. recurvum var. mucronatum^S04]

Sphagnum fimbriatum Wilson in Hook. & Wilson 1846^S04 [incl. S. fimbriatum var. robustum non S. acutifolium var. robustum^OZB-O03, S. fimbriatum var. tenue^OZB-O03, S. fimbriatum f. validius^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum flexuosum Dozy & Molk. 1851^S04 [incl. S. apiculatum var. amblyphyllum^OZB-O03, S. recurvum var. amblyphyllum^S04, S. recurvum var. majus nec S. majus (Russow) Jensen 1890 nec S. apiculatum var. majus^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum fuscum (Schimp.) Klinggr. 1872^S04 [=S. acutifolium var. fuscum^S04, S. rubellum ssp. fuscum^OZB-O03; incl. S. fuscum var. fuscescens^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum girgensohnii Russow 1865^S04 [incl. S. girgensohnii f. homocladus^OZB-O03, S. girgensohnii f. microcephalum^OZB-O03, S. girgensohnii var. stachyodes^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum inundatum Russow 1894 [=S. auriculatum var. inundatum, S. subsecundum var. inundatum; incl. S. subsecundum var. bavaricum non S. bavaricum]^S04

Sphagnum lindbergii Schimp. ex Lindb. 1857^S04 [incl. S. fulvum^OZB-O03, S. moorei var. macrophyllum^SK02, S. lindbergii f. macrophyllum^OZB-O03, S. lindbergii f. mesophyllum^OZB-O03, S. lindbergii f. plumosum non S. cuspidatum f. plumosum^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum majus (Russow) Jensen 1890^S04 [=S. cuspidatum var. majus^S04; incl. S. dusenii^S04, S. dusenii f. drepanocladus^OZB-O03, S. dusenii f. leptocladus^OZB-O03, S. antarcticum var. macrocephalum^SK02, S. dusenii f. macrocephalum^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum molle Sull. 1845^S04 [=S. novo-zelandicum var. molle^SK02; incl. S. molluscoides^OZB-O03, S. molle var. muelleri^{D24, OZB-O03}]

Sphagnum novo-zelandicum Mitt. 1859^SK02 [incl. S. novo-zelandicum var. commutatum^SK02, S. comosum^SK02, S. cymbifolioides Müll.Hal. 1851 (preoc.)^SK02, S. pseudorufescens var. fuscorufescens f. dicladum^SK02, S. dubiosum^SK02, S. pseudorufescens var. flavescens^SK02, S. pseudorufescens var. fuscorufescens^SK02, S. laticoma^SK02, S. contortum var. laxum^SK02, S. squarrosum var. laxum^D24, S. teres var. laxum^D24, S. molliculum^SK02, S. moorei^SK02, S. mossmannianum (nom. inv.)^SK02, S. pseudorufescens var. pallens^SK02, S. novo-zelandicum var. pauciporosum^SK02, S. pseudorufescens^SK02, S. novo-zelandicum var. pulvinatum^SK02, S. contortum var. scorpioides^SK02, S. subsecundum var. subcontortum^SK02, S. submolliculum^SK02, S. sullivanii^SK02, S. pseudorufescens var. virescens^SK02]

Sphagnum obtusum Warnst. 1877^S04 [=S. recurvum var. obtusum^OZB-O03; incl. S. limprichtii^OZB-O03, S. obtusum var. fluitans^OZB-O03, S. obtusum var. recurviforme^OZB-O03, S. obtusum var. riparioides^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum platyphyllum (Lindb. ex Braithw.) Sull. ex Warnst. 1884^S04 [=S. contortum var. platyphyllum^S04, S. laricinum var. platyphyllum^S04, S. subsecundum var. platyphyllum^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum riparium Ångstr. 1864^S04 [=S. cuspidatum var. riparium^OZB-O03, S. intermedium var. riparium^S04; incl. S. girgensohnii var. coryphaeum^D24, S. riparium var. corypheum^OZB-O03, S. riparium var. speciosum non S. cuspidatum var. speciosum^OZB-O03, S. spectabile^D24, S. riparium var. submersum non S. cuspidatum f. submersum^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum russowii Warnst. 1886^S04 [incl. S. apiculatum var. parvulum^OZB-O03, S. acutifolium var. robustum^OZB-O03, S. acutiforme var. robustum^OZB-O03, S. apiculatum var. robustum^OZB-O03, S. girgensohnii var. robustum^S04, S. girgensohnii var. roseum non S. acutifolium var. roseum^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum subnitens Russow & Warnst. 1888^S04 [=S. acutifolium var. subnitens^S04; incl. S. acutifolium var. luridum^OZB-O03, S. nemoreum ssp. plumulosum non S. cuspidatum f. plumulosum^OZB-O03]

Sphagnum teres Ångstr. in Hartm. 1861^S04 [=S. squarrosum var. teres^S04; incl. S. squarrosum var. imbricatum nec S. imbricatum nec S. compactum var. imbricatum^D24, S. teres f. imbricatum^OZB-O03, S. squarrosum var. squarrosulum nec S. cymbifolium var. squarrosulum nec S. subsecundum var. squarrosulum^{D24, OZB-O03}, Sphagnum teres var. squarrosulum^D24]

*Type species of generic name indicated

References

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