Moss Specimen

Date2007

Dimensions1 x 9.5 x 15.5 cm (3/8 x 3 3/4 x 6 1/8 in.)

Object numberHF.2012.49.35

DescriptionA large specimen of dried yellow-white Sphagnum palustre L. plus Ptilium crista-castrensis [Hedw.] De Not. & Sphagnum sp. moss. Sample has long stems with short, branched leaves. Leaves have a scale-like texture, resembling pine cones. Leaves shorten towards the top of the stem and are closely grouped together. Strands of grey-green grass and brown fern-like leaf present with sample.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Bryophyta
Class: Bryophyta
Order: Sphagnales
Family: Sphagnaceae
Genus: Sphagnum
Species: Sphagnum palustre L.

Narrative

Collected on September 21, 2007, by Rosemary Curley from Perth Station, Kings County, PEI (46°14'21.42"N,62°42'7.86"W. Datum: NAD83). Collected growing in a wet seep.

Sphagnum palustre L., grows to a large size with concave branched leaves. It forms untidy mats with distinct capitula at the center. Sphagnum palustre L. will change colour in the autumn, from bright green to red/brown. Like other mosses, Sphagnum palustre can absorb water up to 30 times as much as its own dry weight due to it elastic spiral fibres. It is the most shade tolerant member of the sphagnum species and can be found in sites moderately enriched with nutrients such as wet woodlands, ditches, and streams.

Geographically it is found throughout North America, Europe, Asia, South America and the Pacific Islands. It is common throughout the three Maritime provinces, but is less common in Prince County, PEI.

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