Sphagnum Moss

    Sphagnum moss colors are usually reddish or purplish, and green.  Some sphagnum moss can get up to one foot high.
    The real name for sphagnum moss is sphagnum magelliceam.  The family of sphagnum moss is Sphagnaceane. There are over 350 different species of sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss doesn't actually have any roots. Mosses are among the oldest plants in the world. 

    The habitat for sphagnum moss is in swampy areas and bogs. It lives in northern climates and deep depressions. Also, sphagnum moss can be found around evergreen trees, shrubs, and in acidic areas.
    The stem of sphagnum moss has many cells and also the leaves have one thick layer of cells.
     Some ways of using sphagnum moss is for fuel, diapers, insulation, and bedding. For the First World War, sphagnum moss was used for dressing wounds. Some rare plants, orchids, and pitcher plants are potted in sphagnum moss to keep them from drying out. It is used as an absorbent in shipping. Sphagnum moss is used as peat moss when it dies and dries out. It acts as a sponge and soaks up water. With this it can reduce plumbing problems. Dried out moss is usually used for horticultural reasons. Also, sphagnum moss is valuable in greenhouses and gardens.
 

                                     Bibliography

  Eggers,  Steven D. and Reed, Donald M. . Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and   Wisconsin.  St. Paul: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; 1997

  Sraub, Frank. America's Wetlands. Minneapolis: Carolihoda Earth Watch Book,  1995

This page was created by the Osseo-Fairchild sixth grade students supported by a Cluster A Goals 2000 Grant
Created 4/8/1999     Updated 4/8/1999    sdp

You may contact us at:  spoore@mail.ofsd.k12.wi.us

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