The upright stems are clothed in spirally arranged branches, forming a compact rosette-like head at the stem tips. They hold water like a sponge.   In shade, they are usually green but develop secondary pigmentation in sunlight, often colouring with red, pink or orange tints.   For some species, this can also happen later in the year.  They dry out to a pale green, but rapidly re-hydrate and regain their usual coloration. 

Individual species are difficult to identify, most requiring careful field notes backed up by micrscopic examination.

If you have not identifed your species of Sphagnum through close examination of a specimen, or had your ID confirmed by an expert, you should record it here.

bogs, wet woodlands on acid soils and wet heaths

Local Nature Recovery Strategy indicator species