Sphagnum tundra areas. Their northernmost populations lie in the archipelago of Svalbard, Arctic Norway, at 81° N. In the Southern Hemisphere, the largest peat areas are in southern Chile and Argentina, part of the vast Magellanic Moorland ("circa" 44,000 square km). Peat areas are also found in New Zealand and Tasmania. In the Southern Hemisphere, however, peat landscapes may contain many moss species other than "Sphagnum". "Sphagnum" species are also reported from "dripping rocks" in mountainous, subtropical Brazil. As with many other mosses, "Sphagnum" species disperse spores through the wind. The tops of spore capsules are only about 1 cm above
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