Studies on the Taxonomy and Distribution of Sphagnum V. A New Species of Sphagnum from Quebec

Abstract

Sphagnum splendens, a nonfibrillose species related to S. recurvum var. mucronatum, is described as new from Quebec. In most species of Sphagnum the hyaline cells of branch leaves are fortified by ring-like (or sometimes spiral-like) fibril bands which run all the way around the lumen and which, in a stained cross section through a leaf, appear like a septum with a central opening (see, for instance, Fig. 34 and 37 in Maass, 1967a). Nonfibrillose species are rare and so far included only one North American representative, S. macrophyllum Bernh. (Maass, 1967b). It was therefore of interest to discover in the interior of Quebec another species of Sphagnum lacking fibrils. The latter is obviously related to S. recurvum P. Beauv. agg., especially var. mucronatum (Russ.) Warnst. sens. Paul (=S. fallax Klinggr. = S. apiculatum H. Lindb.). It is named S. splendens for its glossy appearance. Sphagnum splendens Maass, sp. nov. (Fig. 1-4) Cellulae hyalinae sine fibrillis. Foliae ramnulorum siccatae non undulatae, nitidae. Ceterum haec planta Sphagno recurvo var. mucronato similis. CANADA. QUEBEC: 50 mi. W of Chapais, Maass, 5 Jul. 1965 (HERB. MAASs-holotype). The new species differs from S. recurvum var. mucronatum by the lack of fibrils (compare Fig. 1-4 and 5-8), by more appressed leaves which are never wavy when dry and whose tips are only weakly bent outward near the end of branches, and by its glossy appearance. The pores on the concave face of leaves tend to be more elliptical (extending in transverse direction to the cells) when compared with those of S. recurvum var. mucronatum. The type was found in a shallow pool of an extremely poor fen where it grew intimately mixed with S. recurvum var. mucronatum, S. majus (Russ.) C. Jens. (= S. dusenii C. Jens. ex Russ.), and Cladopodiella fluitans (Nees) Buch. Possibly S. splendens belongs to a group of plants endemic to northern Quebec and adjacent territory. The glossy appearance of the moss may be due to the absence of fibrils, which would be expected to change the absorption and reflection properties of the leaf. It is significant that all species of Sphagnum lacking fibrils are glossy, and that the perichaetial leaves of all Sphagnum species where fibrils are poorly developed or missing are likewise glossy. The curvature of leaves may also be influenced by the fibrillosity of the hyaline cells. Thus, S. splendens could have arisen from S. recurvum var. 1 Issued as National Research Council paper No. 9549. I am grateful to Drs. H. A. Crum, V. Krajina, and W. B. Schofield for help in the preparation of this paper. Part IV of this series of papers has been submitted to Nova Hedwigia. 2 Atlantic Regional Laboratory, National Research Council, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. This content downloaded from 207.46.13.159 on Sun, 23 Oct 2016 04:50:42 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 194 THE BRYOLOGIST [Volume 70