Sphagnum may have a number of different "Sphagnum" species. Individual peat moss plants consist of a main stem, with tightly arranged clusters of branch fascicles usually consisting of two or three spreading branches and two to four hanging branches. The top of the plant, or capitulum, has compact clusters of young branches. Along the stem are scattered leaves of various shapes, named stem leaves; the shape varies according to species. The leaves consist of two kinds of cells; small, green, living cells (chlorophyllose cells), and large, clear, structural, dead cells (hyaline cells). The latter have the large water-holding capacity. "Sphagnum", like
Bryocella elongata "Terriglobus" and 92.2–92.3% similarity to the type strains of "Telmatobacter bradus" and "Acidobacterium capsulatum". "Bryocella elongata" is an aerobic chemo-organotroph. The growth substrates are sugars and heteropolysaccharides of plant and microbial origin (pectin, lichenan, fucoidan, gellan gum). Type strain "Bryocella elongata" SN10(T) was isolated from a methanotrophic enrichment culture obtained from an acidic "Sphagnum" peat. "Bryocella elongata" is not capable of growth on C(1) compounds, but it can develop in co-culture with exopolysaccharide-producing methanotrophs by utilization of their capsular material. "Bryocella elongata" is an acidophilic, mesophilic bacterium capable of growth at pH 3.2–6.6 (optimum at pH 4.7–5.2) and at 6–32