Rare Species Guide

 Sphagnum lescurii    Sull. in Gray

Red Twisted Peat Moss 

MN Status:
threatened
Federal Status:
none
CITES:
none
USFS:
none
Group:
moss
Class:
null
Order:
null
Family:
null
Habitats:

(Mouse over a habitat for definition)
Minnesota range map
Map Interpretation
North American range map
Map Interpretation

  Synonyms

Sphagnum orlandense, Sphagnum subsecundum var. rufescens, Sphagnum weiboldtii, Sphagnum plicatum

  Basis for Listing

Sphagnum lescurii was ostensibly discovered in Minnesota prior to 1950 in Beltrami County and again in 2003 in Lake County (Janssens 2005). Both records were documented by specimens deposited in the University of Minnesota Herbarium. The discoveries were thought to be the only recorded locations of this species occurring in the state, indicating that it was quite rare and in need of conservation consideration. For this reason, it was listed as threatened in Minnesota in 2013. Since that time, the species’ identification has been reevaluated by experts, and it was determined that both specimens had been misidentified. Both specimens are in fact Sphagnum missouricum, a newly recognized and closely related species. As of this writing there has been no verified occurrence of Sphagnum lescurii in Minnesota.

  Authors/Revisions

Erika R. Rowe (MNDNR), 2018

(Note: all content ©MNDNR)


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