English name: Blunt-leaved bog-moss
A bog-moss that forms large, untidy mats or loose hummocks that consist of green to yellow-brown shoots that may have a contrastingly coloured capitulum centre. Spreading branches in the outer part of the capitulum and just below tend to be elongated and taper narrowly. The shoots have a dense and untidy look.
In Scotland, Sphagnum palustre is widespread in wet woodland, boggy grassland, ditches, stream margins and flushed peaty banks. BBS distribution map
Look our for Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum squarrosum and Sphagnum subnitens nearby.
Confusion species: Sphagnum squarrosum
scottishlichens.co.uk 