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BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)
Hill, M.O., 1992
Sphagnum: a field guide
A short guide to help the non-specialist to identify Sphagnum, or provide a handy aide-memoire to the more experienced. A laudable aim: these are the most significant organisms in acid habitats. People are often put off by their supposed difficulty, but at least the larger species are easy to identify with a hand lens, and once learnt can be recognised at sight.
The booklet starts with 5 pages of glossary explaining the structure of the Sphagnum plant, half a dozen terms and pictures of leaf shapes. This is followed by the General Key (ie Key to Sections), followed by the individual Section keys. Each of these starts with a list of characteristic features and a few words of advice.
| Publisher |
Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough (JNCC) |
| Pages |
31 |
| ISBN |
1 873701 14 4 |
| Coverage |
All the British species known at the time. |
| Illustrations |
Line drawings of salient features accompany the text. |
| Identify |
With x8 or x10 hand lens (also useful to examine with x15 or x20 hand lens). |
| Specimen Prep. |
Fresh material. |
| Difficulty |
Generally strightforward, but Section Acutifolia is more tricky. Plants growing in shade may give trouble. Microscopy sometimes needed. |
Malcolm Storey
Taxonomic Scope
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