E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Species description:
Species name meaning of the marshes, in reference to the usual habitat.

Reproduction:
Sporophytes sporadic in occurrence, maturing in spring to summer, reddish-brown and grooved when mature; gemmif­erous plants frequent through most of the year.

Distinguishing characteristics:
The whitish midrib that is shiny on the back of the leaf is distinctive in dried plants; the leaves are somewhat contorted when dry.

Habit:
Forming extensive dense, yellow-green turfs of erect shoots, of­ten interwoven with red rhizoids.

Similar Species:
Differs from A. androgynum in habitat and size. From A. turgidum, the contorted leaves and the less turgid shoots are useful distinguishing features; A. turgidum also occurs in drier sites. A. acuminatum has pointed leaves but the plants are turgid and leaves do not become contorted when dry.