Sphagnum cymbifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw., Fundam. Musc. 2: 86. 1782. Sphagnum japonicum Warnst., Allg. Bot. Zeits. 1: 230. 1895. Sphagnum palustre ssp. cymbifolium Ehrh., Hannov. Mag. 18: 235. 1780. Sphagnum subbicolor Hampe, Flora 63: 440. 1880. Sphagnum sulphureum Warnst., Hedwigia 47: 77. 1907.

Plants grayish green to yellowish green, sometimes tinged with brownish or pale pinkish, in compact cushions. Stem cortex in 3–4 layers, hyaline cells fibrillose, each with 3–9 pores; central cylinder yellowish brown. Stem leaves 1.0–2.0 mm × 0.8–0.9 mm, oblong-ligulate, rounded at the apex, upper marginal cells hyaline, forming broad borders; hyaline cells usually not divided, rarely with fibrils and pores, frequently with membrane pleats. Branches in fascicles of 3–5, with 2–3 spreading branches. Branch leaves ca. 2.0 mm × 1.5–1.8 mm, imbricate, ovate-circular, cucullate-concave, dorsally roughened at the apex; hyaline cells rhomboidal, often with large, rounded, unringed, central pores, few pores in the corners on the ventral surface, with half-round, ringed pores along commissural rows and a few pores at the opposite corners on the dorsal surface; green cells in cross section narrowly triangular or trapezoidal, enclosed by hyaline cells, exposed more broadly on the ventral surface or slightly exposed on the dorsal surface. Dioicous; antheridial branches yellowish or pale pinkish. Perichaetial leaves broadly ovate, ca. 5.0 mm × 2.5–3.0 mm, borders narrowly differentiated, fibrillose and porose in the upper portion, with all hyaline cells in the middle near the leaf base, without fibrils and pores. Spores yellowish, 28–33 µm in diameter.

Type. Europe.

Chinese specimens examined: ANHUI: Huang Shan (Mt.), P.-C. Chen 7395 (KUN), D.-K. Li 2306 (KUN), S.-E. Liu & B.-Q. Zhong 2753 (KUN, PE), M. Zang 22 (KUN). FUJIAN: Yan-ping Co., X.-X. Zhong 3048 (PE); Wuyi Shan (Mt.), P.-C. Chen et al. 383, 969 (KUN). GUANGDONG: Dinghu Shan (Mt.), C. Gao 8272 (KUN), B.-H. Liang 88263 (KUN), S.-E. Liu 6728 (KUN); Ping-shi Co., S.-Q. Chen 677 (KUN); Ren-hua Co., L. Deng 7619 (KUN). GUIZHOU: Guiyang, C. Gao & S.-Z. Wang 40157 (IFSBH, MO); Longchang Pref., S.-M. Deng I-524, A-23 (KUN). HEILONGJIANG: Wuying, Y.-C. Zhu 6313 (KUN); Xiao Xing An Ling (Lesser Khingan Mt.), C. Gao 8, 153 (IFSBH, KUN). HUNAN: Wu-gang Co., T. Cao & X. Fu 42532 (IFSBH, MO), Handel-Mazzetti 12530 (H). JIANGXI: Lu Shan (Mt.), M. Zang 2 (KUN, MO); Nanchang City, M.-X. Gong 555 (KUN), P.-C. Chen 55 (KUN), X.-J. Li 18 (KUN). JILIN: Fu-song Co., Y.-L. Zhang 654 (KUN, PE). LIAONING: Wu-shun Co., Z.-G. Wang 654 (KUN). SICHUAN: Emei Shan (Mt.), Sichuan Univ. Biol. Dept. 10002a (PE). TAIWAN: Tai-zhong Co., M.-J. Lai 909 (KUN). XIZANG: Mo-tou Co., Y.-G. Su 1064 (KUN), 3813 (KUN, MO). YUNNAN: Da-guan Co., X.-J. Li 4185, 4335 (KUN); Gong-shan Co., M. Zang 753 (KUN); Jing-dong Co., W.-X. Xu 118, 5410 (KUN); Xin-ping Co., Q.-A. Wu 6191 (KUN), 6192 (KUN, MO); Yang-bi Co., M. Zang 84001 (KUN); Yi-liang Co., S.-K, Chen 78-13 (KUN), X.-J. Li 4398 (KUN), 4458 (KUN, MO), F.-Y. Liu 7801 (KUN), X. Zhou 5218 (KUN); Zhen-xiong Co., S.-G. Wu 4604 (KUN, MO). ZHEJIANG: Hengzhou City, P.-C. Chen et al. 6039 (KUN), D.-K. Li 5618, 8593 (KUN, SHM), R.-L. Hong 248, 1680 (b) (KUN), C.-Q. Liu 363 (KUN), S.-E. Liu 6731 (KUN), P.-C. Wu 520 (KUN); Sui-chang Co., Z.-L. Liu 363, 1793 (KUN, SHM).

Habitat: in bogs, on wet grassland or ground under forests; also on rocks and humic soil near streams; Distribution: China, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Russia, Europe, North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

This is a variable and widely distributed species. Warnstorf (1911) recognized a number of varieties and forms based on variation in plant colors and sizes. However, we found that plant sizes and colors vary greatly depending on habitats, and numerous intermediate forms existed from Chinese populations. It is often difficult to make a clear distinction among different varieties. In China two subspecies can be recognized, based on different shapes of the green cells from branch leaves and a clear distinction of their distribution.

Illustrations: C. Gao (ed.) 1994 (Pl. 14, figs. 1–8).