ON EXTREME CONDITIONS FOR THE GROWTH OF <i>SPHAGNUM MAJUS</i>IN MIRE WATER TRACKS OF KARELIA (RUSSIA)
The winter growth of Sphagnum majus (Russow) C.E.O. Jensen (Sphagnaceae) in water tracks is analyzed. The study was carried out in mires of southern Karelia in 2014-2016, using the technique of geotropic curva- tures on sample plots 70×70 cm. Five sample plots with S. majus were considered. Elongation of shoots in this species varied from 0.4 to 4.2 cm (9.7-29.9% of the annual growth). On the average, the elongation of shoots on the sample plots was 23.4±8.48%. Winter growth of S. majus observed in this study can be explained by a pro- longed or permanent unfrozen state of the habitat during the winter. The presented data are the first estimates of winter growth of Sphagnum in Russia.