Pinhook Bog nutrient-poor. The outstanding feature of Pinhook Bog is the tree-covered mat of sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss is a stringy, delicate moss of a light-green color. The mat floats on top of the water and can become thick, yet it can have a pocket only a few inches thick in the middle. As the mat thickens, larger and larger plants take root and grow. Under the mat a peat bed develops. The acidic water slows the decay of the sphagnum moss and other plants. With time, the peat may fill the bog from the mat to the bottom. As the moisture
Sphagnum fuscum Endangered species lists within some German states. Switzerland has labelled "S. fuscum" as vulnerable. In the United States, "S. fuscum" is reported to be at risk in the state of North Carolina. Across Europe, "S. fuscum’s" habitats are under protection. Germany and Switzerland have both placed the moss under “special protection.” This species is associated with "Sphagnum angustifolium", "S. fallax", "S. magellanicum", "S. papillosum", more infrequently with "S. teres", and "S. warnstorfii" in richer sites. "Sphagnum fuscum" is easily discernible from other species of Sphagnum, as it tends to be reddish brown in color, and is more likely to form