Sphagnum palustre P12 Identification Card
Sphagnum palustre P12
Unknown Location
This is the dichotomous key with which the P12 culture was analyzed.
The images shown were made to the optical microscope by analyzing samples taken from culture P12.
For the full dichotomous key, read this blog
1
Cortical cells or branches (and usually at least the internal one of stems) with spiral fibrils. Apices of branch leaves blunt and hooded, appearing minutely roughened. On the convex surface due to projecting, partly resorbed, hyaline cells. Plants usually robust. | |
Cortical cells without fibrils. Branch leaf apices usually acute, truncate or, if hooded, then smooth on the convex surface. Plants robust or small. | 5 |
Fig. 1 - The spirals fibrils, which are present in cortical cells of the stem of the branches, are well evident.
Fig. 2 - Apices of branch leaves blunt and hooded, appearing minutely roughened. On the convex surface due to projecting, partly resorbed, hyaline cells.
2 - Section Sphagna
Internal commissural walls of branch leaf hyaline cells (at least in the lower lateral parts of leaves) with papillae or sparse to dense lamellae or crests (ie appearing as though the photosynthetic cells have papillose or ornamented walls). Plants green, yellow, ochre or brown, never crimson. | 3 |
Internal commissural walls smooth throughout. Plants, except for capitula, usually green or crimson-tinted. | 4 |
Fig. 3 - Internal commissural walls smooth throughout.
Fig. 4 - Photosynthetic cells well exposed on the concave leaf surface: in TS, trapezoid to narrowly oval-triangular.
4
Plants usually with at least some flecks of crimson, often entirely deep, wine-red. Spreading branches usually blunt. Photosynthetic cells not, or rarely, exposed on the concave leaf surface: in TS, oval and mostly enclosed by hyaline cells. Plants widespread but local (and then often abundant) on oligotrophic mires. | Sphagnum magellanicum |
Plants never red (sometimes pinkish-brown or grey-purple, especially in the capitulum). Spreading branches long-tapering. Photosynthetic cells well exposed on the concave leaf surface: in TS, trapezoid to narrowly oval-triangular. Plant common in mesotrophic mires or parts of mires. | Sphagnum palustre 4a |
Fig. 5 - Piante grandi e robuste, con rami smussati. La popolazione da cui originano presenta, in natura, alcune piante con parti color cremisi.
4a - Sphagnum palustre
Photosynthetic cells in TS oval-triangular to trapezoid: thin-walled. Plant widespread and common in the south: becoming rarer further north. | Sphagnum palustre var. palustre |
Photosynthetic cells in TS, oval to urn-shaped with strongly thickened adaxial walls. Plant widespread in the north (ie boreal and sub-arctic): confined to montane areas further south. | Sphagnum palustre var. centrale |
