Sphagnum subnitens forms moderately dense cushions and small hummocks.  The colour is usually salmony-pink or brick-red with a central green capitulum, but in shaded places it can be entirely green.  Stem-leaves have an acute tip and can be triangular; they usually have inrolled and pinched-in margins at the tip.  They are not fibrillate, unlike S rubellum/capillifolium. 

In Section Acutifolia, characterised by stem-leaves that are mostly erect, often with reddish or pinkish tints and slender growth-habit.  

Similar to Spagnum rubellum/capillifolium but often with a greener capitula and with stem leaves that have a sharp tip.

Detailed photographs taken in the field and from a specimen.  We recommend that a detailed note of location or GPS reading is made and that a small specimen - e.g. two or three shoots - is retained in case this is needed for verification; all Sphagnum are rare or scarce in VC55 and should not be over-collected.

Bogs, marshes, flushes, wet woodland, etc.

All year round.

Rare

https://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/learning/species-finder/sphagnum-subnitens-var-subnitens/