Sphagnum falcatulum Bescherelle 1885

This species is characterized by having stem leaves narrowly elongate, with fibrils and pores on both surfaces of the hyaline cells, which are different from those of Sphagnum cuspidatulum and S. jensenii. The latter two species have stem leaves short and broad, without fibrils and pores on both surfaces of the hyaline cells.

Plants slender, whitish green tinged with brownish color, in loose tufts. Stem cortex in 3 layers, hyaline cells moderately thick-walled; central cylinder yellowish. Stem leaves ca. 1.6 mm × 0.6 mm, ovate-triangular, rounded-obtuse, borders narrow above, clearly widened below, ca. 1/4 leaf width at base; hyaline cells narrow- to linear-rhomboidal, densely fibrillose with pores, basal cells without fibrils. Branches in fascicles of 4, with 2 spreading. Branch leaves 1.3–1.7 mm × ca. 0.6 mm, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to a chanelled, blunt and dentate apex, borders narrow, undulate when dry; hyaline cells oblong- to linear-rhomboidal, fibrillose, with a few rather large pores on the ventral surface, with small pores at the corners in the upper cells and more pores in the lower cells on the dorsal surface, the inner walls adjacent to green cells smooth; the green cells in cross section ovate-triangular, exposed on the dorsal surface. Dioicous. Perichaetial leaves large, broadly ovate at base, gradually narrowed to lanceolate above, cucullate at the apex; hyaline cells without fibrils. Sporophytes not seen.

Distribution: China, Australia, New Zealand, and South America.

Habitat: in bogs or on wetlands in high mountains, rarely on humus and wet rocks under forests.

Sphagnum lanceolatum Warnst., Hedwigia 29: 219. Pl. 8, f. 7–9; Pl. 10, f. 4–5. 1890.

Sphagnum falcatulum is a species of peat moss. It occurs in Australia where it has been recorded from New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, including subantarctic Macquarie Island, as well as from New Zealand and South America. It occurs in wetlands from near sea level to subalpine sites, often in water where the plants have a feathery appearance.