Sammendrag
Sphagnum magellanicum has been viewed as being a predominantly circumpolar species in the northern
hemisphere, but it occurs in the southern hemisphere and was originally described from the southern parts of
Chile. It is an ecologically important species in mire ecosystems and has been extensively used as a model to
study processes of growth, carbon sequestration and peat decomposition. Molecular and experimental
studies have, however, revealed genetic structure within S. magellanicum, and morphological differences
associated with these genetic groups. Here we describe Sphagnum divinum in Sphagnum subgenus
Sphagnum (Sphagnaceae, Bryophyta) as a new species, based on molecular and morphological evidence.
Sphagnum medium is reinstated as a distinct species and is epitypified. Consequently, a new species
concept of S. magellanicum is presented including an epitypification. Important morphological characters to
separate these three species in the field and under the microscope are presented. Ecology and distribution
differ among the species; S. divinium has a wide habitat range including mire margin, forested peatlands and
moist heaths, and a circumpolar distribution around the northern hemisphere. Sphagnum medium seems to
be more restricted to ombrotrophic mire expanse habitats and shows an amphi-Atlantic distribution in the
northern hemisphere. Sphagnum magellanicum has a very broad ecological niche in peatlands and is found
in most mire habitats in Tierra del Fuego on the southern tip of South America.
Biogeography, Ecology, Morphology, Peatmoss, Speciation, Taxonomy
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