Sphagnum erect, leafy, branched gametophyte with chlorophyllose cells and hyaline cells. This stage dominates the environment where "Sphagnum" grows, obliterating and burying the protonema and eventually building up into layers of dead moss called peat. Carpets of living "Sphagnum" may be attacked by various fungi, and one fungus that is also a mushroom, "Sphagnurus paluster", produces conspicuous dead patches. When this fungus and other agarics attack the protonema, "Sphagnum" is induced to produce nonphotosynthetic gemmae that can survive the fungal attack and months later germinate to produce new protonema and leafy gametophytes. It is unknown whether the leafy stage can produce
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