Sphagnum diabolicum sp. nov. and S. magniae sp. nov.; morphological variation and taxonomy of the “S. magellanicum complex”

Abstract

Until a few years ago, Sphagnum magellanicum was understood to be a single widespread species with an intercontinental range. Recent work by Norwegian sphagnologists showed that S. magellanicum s.str. is restricted to southern South America and plants known as S. magellanicum in Europe should be referred to S. divinum and S. medium. In a separate publication, we showed that there are two additional major clades in eastern North America, and we describe them herein as S. diabolicum and S. magniae. These species are very hard to distinguish morphologically (and also from S. divinum and S. medium) but are distinct phylogenetically, ecologically and geographically, and are important units of biodiversity. Morphological variation within and between species is photographically documented.