About

Sphagnum fimbriatum, the fringed bogmoss, is a peat moss found in temperate regions worldwide, from the Arctic to New Zealand and along the Andes. William Wilson formally described the species in 1846. Plants measure up to 10 cm (4 in) tall, varying from slender to moderately robust forms. It forms loose carpets or soft mounds in wetlands and is identified by its stem leaves with fringed upper margins. The stem leaves distinguish it from other Sphagnum species, including its close relative S. girgensohnii which has rectangular stem leaves fringed only at the tip.

The species grows in various environments but favours damp woodlands and partially shaded wetlands, where it initiates bog formation. It prefers moderately nutrient-rich conditions but tolerates pollutants and saline environments.

Where it grows

Sphagnum fimbriatum typically grows in moderately nutrient-rich (mesotrophic) wetland environments, where it forms soft, raised mounds (hummocks) or loose carpets in partially shaded conditions. The species is particularly characteristic of young wetland stages in succession, being among the first Sphagnum species to colonise new sites. These early successional habitats typically have thin peat layers and fluctuating hydrological conditions, making them more sensitive to weather variations than established peatlands with thicker peat accumulation.

Other Sphagnum plants

Sphagnum · Sphagnum · Aongstroem's sphagnum · Austin's sphagnum · Plants · Sphagnum · Sphagnum · Low sphagnum · Contorted sphagnum · Toothed sphagnum · Sphagnum · Sphagnum falcatulum