Sphagnum such gemmae. Peat moss can be distinguished from other moss species by its unique branch clusters. The plant and stem color, the shape of the branch and stem leaves, and the shape of the green cells are all characteristics used to identify peat moss to species. "Sphagnum" taxonomy has been very contentious since the early 1900s; most species require microscopic dissection to be identified. In the field, most "Sphagnum" species can be identified to one of four major sections of the genus—classification and descriptions follow Andrus 2007 (Flora North America): The reciprocal monophyly of these sections and two other minor
Scheuchzeria species was known from, and only one where it currently occurs; it is extinct at a few other wetland sites further south in Britain, being found in pools and west hollows of ancient undisturbed Sphagnum bogs. Scheuchzeria Scheuchzeria palustris (Rannoch-rush, or pod grass), is a flowering plant in the family Scheuchzeriaceae, in which there is only one species and Scheuchzeria is the only genus. In the APG II system it is placed in the order Alismatales of the monocots. It is a herbaceous perennial plant, native to cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, where it grows in wet "Sphagnum"