Chat Moss along with Risley Moss and Holcroft Moss, is also a European Union designated Special Area of Conservation, known as Manchester Mosses. The major habitats in the moss are bog, heathland, woodland and acidic grassland, subject to varying degrees of wetness depending on the local drainage. The remaining areas of bog are dominated by common cottongrass "Eriophorum angustifolium" and hare's-tail cottongrass "E. vaginatum". Bog mosses are more scarce, but "Sphagnum cuspidatum", "S. recurvum", "S. tenellum", "S. fimbriatum" and "S. subnitens" occur in patches. As the peat has become drier, areas have been taken over by purple moor grass "Molinia caerulea" and
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