Montana Field Guide

Plants: Somewhat long, slender plants in open and frequently large mounds (Crum and Anderson et al. 1981), green, ochre to brown (FNA 2007), green tinged with grey (dense and brownish in the Arctic); terminal bud of the distinct capitulum conspicuous, cone-shaped, greyish with white (Crum and Anderson et al. 1981); stem and branch leaves akin in size (FNA 2007).

Stems and Stem Leaves: Stems light green to pale golden-yellow (FNA 2007). Stem leaves spatulate (gradually broadening above the base) (FNA 2007) or fan-shaped, frequently broader than long (Crum and Anderson et al. 1981), mostly 0.8-1.5 mm in length (occasionally up to 2 mm); apex broad and torn, the lacerations frequently continuing along the margins partway (FNA 2007).

Branches and Branch Leaves: Branch stems green, circular in X-section, long and thin, dimorphic, occurring in clusters of 1-2 wider, longer spreading and 1-2 narrower pendent branches. Branch leaves egg-shaped or tending toward lance-shaped, 1.1-1.5 mm in length (sometimes up to 2 mm), straight, a little cupped; margins smooth; apex rolled upward and inward (FNA 2007).

Stem and Stem Leaf Cells: Stem cortical cells fine-walled, swollen, lacking fibrils (FNA 2007), with 1 pore at upper end (Crum and Anderson et al. 1981). Hyaline cells of the stem leaf frequently with 1-2 cross-walls, rhomboidal, lacking fibrils, largely reassimilated on the inner leaf surface and generally intact on the outer surface (FNA 2007).

Branch and Branch Leaf Cells: Branch stems encompassed by 1 layer of swollen, fine-walled hyaline cells that lack fibrils, some of these occasionally as clusters of 1-pored retort cells. Hyaline cells of the branch leaves with numerous pores along the margins adjacent to the green cells on the convex leaf surface, the pores small distally, becoming larger proximally, and displaying on the concave leaf surface fewer and bigger pores; green cells deltoid to trapezoidal in X-section, showing on both leaf surfaces, more widely so on the concave side, the end walls of the cells not great in depth (FNA 2007).

Sphagnum fimbriatum var. fimbriatum: Present in Montana. Plants generally small and thin, the small capitulum with a noticeable terminal bud, green to ochre. Stem leaves widely spatula-shaped, 0.8-2 mm, well-torn along the wide apex and partially down the margins (FNA 2007).

Sphagnum fimbriatum var. concinnum: Plants medium-sized and rigid, the capitulum medium-sized, the terminal bud not standing out, brown to brown-tinged with gold. Stem leaves spatula-shaped, 0.95-1.1 mm, torn across the wide apex and smooth along the margins (FNA 2007).

Sphagnum fimbriatum var. fimbriatum: Capsules ripen from late spring into the first part of summer (FNA 2007).

Sphagnum fimbriatum var. fimbriatum: Nutrient-rich (FNA 2007) wet soil and peat (Elliott 2016), at the edges of bogs and poor fens on mineral soil, somewhat exposed to wooded fens. Elevation: low to high (FNA 2007).

Sphagnum fimbriatum var. concinnum: Poor fen tundra peatlands, growing into carpets and low hillocks. Elevation: low to medium (FNA 2007).

Sphagnum fimbriatum var. fimbriatum: Monoicous. Sporophytes quite common (FNA 2007).

Sphagnum fimbriatum var. concinnum: Sexual reproductive state not known (FNA 2007).