Bryophytes » Sphagnaceae » Sphagnum inundatum Lesser Cow-horn Bog-moss

Sphagnum inundatum Lesser Cow-horn Bog-moss

Russow

A medium-sized, dioicous bog-moss that grows in wet ditches, on wet banks, in marshy pastures and at the edges of flushes, especially where there is some base enrichment. Unlike Sphagnum auriculatum, it rarely occurs submerged despite its rather misleading name. Plants are often a bright golden-green or golden orange-brown colour with branches that are weakly curved at their tips. The capitula have a stellate appearance and look quite spiky especially when dry. It has a western and northern distribution in Britain and is fairly common throughout much of Wales. It is widespread in West Glamorgan and is particularly common on wet banks and in ditches along forest roads. Sporophyte capsules are occasional in summer.

Sphagnum inundatum - © Barry Stewart
Sphagnum inundatum - © Barry Stewart

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