Northern red-backed vole northern forest and shrubland habitats. They occur in every major forest type in central Alaska. Plant species commonly found in areas occupied by northern red-backed voles include black spruce ("Picea mariana"), white spruce ("P. glauca"), quaking aspen ("Populus tremuloides"), paper birch ("Betula papyrifera"), alder ("Alnus" spp.), willow ("Salix" spp.), mountain cranberry ("Vaccinium vitis-idaea"), blueberry and bilberry ("Vaccinium" spp.), bunchberry ("Cornus canadensis"), and a variety of grasses and forbs. Important fungi, mosses and lichens include truffle ("Endogone fascilulata"), Schreber's moss ("Pleurozium schreberi"), mountain fern moss ("Hylocomium splendens"), sphagnum ("Sphagnum" spp.), and lichens ("Cladonia and Peltigera" spp.). The breeding season of northern
Sphagnum cuspidatum branch leaves can sometimes be faintly serrated. "S. cuspidatum" is a dioecious species. The spores produced are 29-38 µm, covered with large papillae on both surfaces, and appear to be covered in small blisters (pusticulate). "S. cuspidatum" can be found on wet humus under forests and on the bases of trees forming a hummock-hollow complex; in or near bogs. Distinguishing "Sphagnum cuspidatum" from "Sphagnum viride" is sometimes difficult as both occur over a similar geographic range and both grow in wet carpets. "Sphagnum cuspidatum" has narrower branch leaves and usually a distinct red tinge at the branch bases within the