Identification notes
Straminergon stramineum is a widespread plant in wet acid places, especially bogs where it often grows in association with Sphagnum species. It grows as long pale green often unbranched shoots up to about 8cm in length that can wiggle through Sphagnum cushions, or as patches with parallel stems that form loose tufts. The leaves held erect giving a julaceous appearance, but because they are stiff and concave they are not completely appressed to the stem.
With a hand lens the rounded tip and strong nerve is obvious. This immediately rules out Calliergonella cuspidata. Calliergon cordifolium and C.giganteum are larger, darker, and much more branched, and have bigger patches of alar cells extending to the nerve.
On occasion, a tuft of dark rhizoids can be seen growing from the tip of the back of the leaves. This is a useful confirmatory character but is often absent. With a little experience this is a straightforward species to recognise, with its long vermiform pale green shoots snaking their way through bogs and mires.
Read the Field Guide account
