SPHAGNUM
Sphagnum is a large genus of plants, including over 200 species of mosses, similar in structure and ecology.
Taxonomy and names
Sphagnum belongs to higher, or, as they are also called, leafy plants. This division is rather arbitrary, but characterizes moss as a plant with differentiated organs. Sphagnum belongs to the Bryophytes, or Bryophytes, division, the most primitive division of modern higher plants.
The order Sphagnales differs from green mosses in a number of anatomical, morphological and biological characteristics. It includes only one family - Sphagnaceae (Shagnaceae) and the only genus Shagnum, which unites about 350 species (according to other data 320). The photo shows bog sphagnum (Shagnum palustre).
Synonymous names for sphagnum:
White moss - comes from the white or light green color of some species; Because of its white color, sphagnum moss is sometimes confused with certain types of lichens.
peat moss - due to the plant’s ability to form peat bogs;
sphagnum
Area and place in biocenoses
The main distribution of sphagnum mosses is the tundra and forest zones of the Northern Hemisphere: in the northern and middle parts of the forest zone, taiga, tundra, forest-tundra, Siberia, the Far East and the Caucasus.
In the Southern Hemisphere, sphagnum moss is less common, growing mainly in mountainous areas. Although sphagnum is a typical Holarctic plant, the greatest diversity of species of this genus is found in South America.
Ecosystems where sphagnum mosses grow:
raised bogs (also called sphagnum bogs);
swampy coniferous or mixed forests;
forest-tundra zone with a predominance of coniferous trees;
wet meadows with poor drainage and stagnant water;
river valleys with swampy banks, here on pine forest terraces the habitat of sphagnum can extend far to the south, right up to the steppe zone;
mountainous regions (alpine and subalpine belt).
Morphological features
All types of sphagnum have morphological features inherent only to mosses - they have no roots. But sphagnum has its own characteristic features that distinguish it from green mosses.
Contrary to the often used name “white moss,” most types of sphagnum are green, brown or reddish in color.
Sphagnum is clearly differentiated into stem and leaves. Branched stems, caulidia, grow vertically, reaching a height of 20 cm. Densely growing sphagnum stems form pads or tufts. Sphagnum moss grows only in the upper part, and the lower part gradually dies off, forming peat.
A characteristic feature of sphagnum is the absence of rhizoids in adult plants, replacing roots for mosses. In moss sprouting from a spore, rhizoids are formed, but soon die along with the lower part of the sphagnum.
The structure of the sphagnum stem is simple: there is a core in the center, the inner layer consists of elongated cells with thickened walls (prosenchyma), and the outside of the stem is covered with epidermal cells. Sphagnum multilayered epidermis is called hyaloderma. This layer consists of dead, empty, transparent cells that have pores. Cells are always filled with water and dissolved mineral components; they play the role of conductive tissue.
Thanks to hyalodermal cells and water-bearing leaf cells, sphagnum has the property of being hygroscopic. Dry moss can increase its mass thirty times when placed in water.
At the end of each branch, the leaves are collected in a bunch - this is a feature of sphagnum mosses.
Sphagnum leaves, or phyllidia, are of two types - stem and branch. The branch leaves are smaller than the stem leaves and are arranged like tiles: they overlap one another.
The leaves of sphagnum mosses consist of only one layer of cells. Their difference from the leaves of green mosses is that sphagnum does not have a central leaf vein.
Leaf cells are divided into living and dead. This is associated with different cellular functions. Living (assimilating) cells contain chlorophyll; they are narrow, worm-shaped, and long. Dead ones are diamond-shaped and absorb and store water.
Photo: white moss - sphagnum / bog sphagnum
Features of reproduction
Mosses are the only representatives of higher plants in which the gametophyte, that is, the haploid generation, dominates in the development cycle. The diploid generation is a sporophyte, highly reduced and is a spore-bearing capsule on a stalk.
Sphagnum, like all representatives of the Bryophyte department, reproduces with the help of spores and with the help of gametes (sexual reproduction).
The gametophytic generation is what people call sphagnum (stem with leaves). Among hundreds of species of sphagnum there are monoecious and dioecious representatives. Gametes in sphagnum are formed in archegonia and antheridia.
Features of the chemical composition
The composition of sphagnum moss includes:
tannins - thanks to them, moss is stored for hundreds of years without rotting;
sphagnol is a phenolic compound that blocks the development of putrefactive bacteria, playing the role of a natural antiseptic;
polysaccharides (starch, glucose and some cellulose);
terpenes;
proteins and amino acids;
silicon.
Species of the genus Sphagnum (Shagnum)
Usually the word “sphagnum” refers to bog sphagnum (Shagnum palustre).
In swampy pine forests it often grows with. compact (S. compactum) and c. oak forest (S. nemoreum).
In sphagnum bogs, typical species of s. brown (S.fuscun), p. deceptive (S.fallax).
In lowland swamps, in alder forests and swampy groves - p. central (S.centrale), p. blunted (S. obtusum), p. fringed (S.fimbriatum).
Role in biocenoses and economic use
In nature, white mosses are the founders and main plant components of sphagnum bogs. Thanks to sphagnol, white mosses do not rot, but decompose very slowly, creating an acidic environment.
In raised bogs, sphagnum forms low-mineralized but high-calorie peat. The percentage of ash in such peat does not exceed 6%; it is used as fuel, construction and thermal insulation material, chemical raw materials, and also as a substrate (or additive to the substrate) for growing flowers and agricultural crops.
In agriculture, dry sphagnum is also used as bedding for domestic animals. In medicine, peat serves as an antiseptic and dressing material. Sphagnum extracts help in the treatment of rheumatism, intestinal diseases, and infectious skin diseases caused by staphylococci.
Often, sphagnum moss is simply needed to prepare earthen mixtures for planting indoor plants. But a huge number of flower growers have no idea what it is, and there are practically no special explanations about this “ingredient” of soil mixtures anywhere. However, this moss is simply unique and has many benefits that everyone should definitely know about.
The habitat of this type of moss is the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is extremely rare and mainly found only high in the mountains. However, there have been cases where sphagnum was found in flat areas, but this is extremely rare.
In the North, industrial extraction of this most valuable moss is organized. And it is used in a variety of fields, for example, for thermal insulation during the construction of buildings, as well as in the production of medications and perfumes. Due to the fact that sphagnum has a fairly light color, it is also called white moss.
This moss has 3 very useful properties that every gardener can appreciate. Namely:
- It is breathable. Due to this, the soil remains light and quite loose even when wet, which has the best effect on the growth and development of plants.
- Moss is hygroscopic. Yes, he can absorb just a huge amount of water(1 part sphagnum absorbs 20 parts moisture). No other substance or material can do this more, not even cotton. This moss is moistened evenly, and as needed, it releases moisture to the soil in doses. That is why the soil in flower pots, which contains sphagnum moss, is constantly in a moist state, but waterlogging does not occur.
- Sphagnum has antibacterial and disinfectant properties. That is why it is widely used in the production of medications. It is also able to protect the root system from various diseases and rot, due to the fact that it contains a large amount of triterpine compounds, antibiotics and other useful substances.
Moss is used to create soil mixtures both for domestic plants that simply need high humidity, and for others. For example, it is recommended to use it in the composition of soil mixtures for flowers such as: Saintpaulia, Dieffenbachia, and also. However, these are not all plants that react very positively to even small amounts of sphagnum in the soil.
This moss is also widely used for rooting cuttings. So, those who breed violets will root the leaves, as a rule, exclusively with the help of the unique sphagnum moss.
Those gardeners who live in the Northern Hemisphere have the opportunity to independently harvest sphagnum. It grows in sphagnum bogs, which are also called white bogs. It can be stored for quite a long time, and this moss is also perfectly propagated and grown. To the same flower growers. For those who live in warm regions, you can purchase this moss in specialized stores or order it online.
Description and where to find it - Video
1. Describe the appearance of sphagnum moss.
The stems of sphagnum mosses branch: bunches of lateral branches extend from the main stem to the sides. Young branches, which are located at the top of the main stem, are shortened and form a dense head. The leaves of sphagnum mosses are small. They are arranged in a spiral on the main stem and on the side branches.
2. What structure does the sphagnum stem have?
The internal structure of the sphagnum stem is quite simple. On the outside, it is covered with several rows of large dead cells that have pores. Water enters the cells through the pores. Therefore, these cells are called aquiferous. Next is the mechanical fabric. In the center of the stem are living parenchyma cells in which nutrients are stored. Sphagnum mosses do not have special conductive elements.
3. What structure do sphagnum leaves have?
Leaves consist of two types of cells arranged in one layer. Living, narrow, highly elongated cells containing chloroplasts are located between very large dead aquifer cells. There are pores in the cell walls of aquifer cells. Through these pores, water enters the cells and can be retained in them.
4. How is sphagnum different from cuckoo flax?
Cuckoo flax-green moss, sphagnum-white moss, peat. In cuckoo flax, the stem does not branch, but in sphagnum there are three types of branches; in the shoots of cuckoo flax there are no dead cells, but in sphagnum there are a large number of them, these are air-bearing cells capable of absorbing moisture.
5. How does sphagnum propagate?
Sphagnum reproduces sexually and asexually. During sexual reproduction, germ cells merge to form a zygote. Sex cells are formed in antheridia and archegonia. In the asexual method, reproduction occurs by spores.
6. What role do mosses play in nature?
Mosses are often the first to cover bare rocks and other areas lacking vegetation cover. With their rhizoids, they gradually destroy rocks, resulting in the formation of soil. Mosses also play a very important role in regulating the water regime of ecosystems. Mosses absorb and retain large amounts of water. Many types of mosses, especially sphagnum, take part in the formation of an important mineral - peat. It is formed from undecomposed compressed remains of plants growing in swamps. Sphagnum mosses contain bactericidal substances and therefore can be used in medicine.
7. How is peat used?
Peat is widely used by humans as fuel, and in agriculture as a valuable fertilizer and bedding for livestock. A number of substances used by the chemical industry are obtained from peat.
8. Are swamps good or bad? Give reasons for your point of view.
Wetlands play an important role in the formation of rivers. They are also called the “lungs of the planet”, as a huge number of photosynthetic plants release oxygen. Swamps are natural water filters and orderlies for agroecosystems. Valuable plants (blueberries, cranberries, cloudberries) grow in the swamps, which are used by humans for food. In swamps, people extract peat, which is used both as fertilizer and in medicine (mud therapy).
Mosses- These are higher plants whose body is differentiated into stems and leaves. In the life cycle of bryophytes, like other plants, there is an alternation of two generations - a sexual gametophyte and an asexual sporophyte. However, the gametophyte dominates, while in all other higher organisms the sporophyte dominates. That is why mosses are considered as an independent side branch in the evolution of plants. A gametophyte is an adult plant divided into stem and leaves. There are no roots. Their function is performed by rhizoids - outgrowths of the surface cells of the body. Reproductive organs - archegonia - female and antheridia - male. The sporophyte (called sporogon) plays a subordinate role. Morphologically, it is a cylindrical stalk ending in a spherical or cylindrical box, inside which a sporangium with spores is formed. Mosses do not come in large sizes and range from 5 to 45 cm. Bryophytes are close to algae in their organization and ecology. Fertilization is associated with water. They are distributed on all continents of the world.
The main diversity of species is concentrated in humid places of the northern hemisphere in areas with a temperate climate. Bryophytes include about 25 thousand species. Leafy mosses are the largest class of the bryophyte division. Typical representatives of leafy mosses are perennial plants: green moss - cuckoo flax and white moss - sphagnum.
Kukushkin flax- one of the most common representatives of green mosses, from 15 to 20-40 cm in height, forming dense thickets in forests. It has a thin, round, reddish stem and narrow, small, tightly-set green leaves. There are no roots, but rhizoids are well developed. Cuckoo flax reproduces by spores. This is a dioecious plant; there are two gametophytes: male and female. The reproductive organs are formed at the tips of the stems between the apical leaves. Male specimens (male gametophytes) of cuckoo flax have a characteristic dense arrangement of leaves at the top of the stems and a reddish color. Here antheridia are formed, in which spermatozoa with two flagella develop. Archegonia are located at the top of the stem of the female plant (female gametophyte), which, unlike the male one, ends in a rosette of reddish leaves. Fertilization occurs in early spring, when the places where mosses grow are flooded with water. One sperm penetrates the archegonium and fertilizes the egg.
The contents of the egg and sperm merge, resulting in the formation of a zygote. Here, at the top of the cuckoo flax, the zygote divides, and a box on a long stalk, the so-called sporogon, develops from it. The outside of the capsule is covered with a cap - the remnant of the archegonium. A sporangium forms inside the capsule, where spores are formed after meiosis. When ripe, the cap and lid fall off and the spores spill out. Once on moist soil, they germinate and produce a branched thread - a protonema. Buds form on it, from which new leafy shoots grow. The threads that develop during the germination of moss spores are very similar in structure to filamentous green algae, which indicates the relationship of these plants. In all likelihood, some ancient algae were the predecessors of mosses, but they have a more complex structure, which is associated with a terrestrial lifestyle.
A representative of white mosses is sphagnum. It grows in swampy forests and swamps, occupying a huge area in northern Europe, Asia and North America. Quite widespread in temperate regions of the southern hemisphere.
These mosses are called white because they have a white appearance when dry, which is due to the structural features of the adult plant. The structure is distinguished by a number of features. The branched stems of sphagnum are covered with small leaves. Short branches are clustered at the top of the stem, long ones hang along it, forming a kind of wick through which water rises. There are no rhizoids. In adulthood, the lower parts of the plant die off, while the upper parts continue to grow. In the outer part of the stem there are 2-3 layers of large dead cells with pores filled with water. There are no special conductive fabrics. The leaves are single-layered, consisting of narrow, long chlorophyll-bearing cells and large dead cells with pores and spiral or ring-shaped thickenings between them, filled with water, as in the stem. Thanks to this structural feature, mosses can accumulate water 37 times more than their dry mass. Therefore, the development of these mosses causes waterlogging and swamping of the territory. As the moss dries, it fills with air and the moss becomes colorless. However, complete rotting of the dead parts does not occur, since sphagnum releases special substances - hummic acids. These acids kill bacteria and thereby delay the decay process.
Archegonia and antheridia of sphagnum mosses are located on the lateral branches. The sporophyte consists of a spherical capsule and a short stalk. A sporangium forms inside the capsule. When the spores ripen, the top of the stem becomes strongly elongated, the lid falls off the capsule, and the spores spill out. From the spore a lamellar protonema grows, on which leafy shoots of sphagnum are formed.
Peat formation, its significance. Mosses play a significant role in waterlogging of the area. A carpet of green mosses delays evaporation and leads to waterlogging, in which green mosses cannot exist and give way to white mosses. Due to the peculiarities of their structure, sphagnum mosses energetically accumulate water. The dying parts of the sphagnum become compacted and, saturated with water, turn into peat under anaerobic conditions. Peat mass easily absorbs water and prevents air from entering the soil. Conditions are created under which the growth of trees is hampered, they die - and a swamp is formed in place of the forest. Peatland growth is very slow - 1 m per 1000 years. In peat, due to its high acid content and anaerobic conditions, rotting is greatly hindered. Therefore, the remains of organisms and various objects that get into the peat almost do not decompose, which is also facilitated by the low temperature of the peat. In the peat bogs they found the remains of pile buildings and Roman soldiers with all their armor. The study of pollen preserved in peat allows us to judge the vegetation of past periods.
Peat is used as fertilizer, fuel and, most promisingly, as a valuable chemical raw material. Dry distillation of peat produces wax, paraffin, phenols, acetic acid and other substances. Although peat serves as a valuable raw material, the waterlogging of vast areas caused by mosses (especially sphagnum) is a negative phenomenon, since it prevents the growth and regeneration of forests and makes agricultural development of land impossible.
However, the drainage of sphagnum bogs on watersheds should be carried out quite carefully, since bogs play an important water conservation role. Slowly thawing, they delay the descent of meltwater, feed streams, streams and rivers during the summer, preventing them from becoming shallow.
What is so wonderful about sphagnum? Its significance in nature is enormous. After all, this is moss that creates swamps. That's right - not just living in a swamp, but creating them! From sphagnum, to a very large extent, reserves of such valuable natural wealth as peat are formed.
Sphagnum (Sphagnum, sphagnum, peat moss, white moss) is a perennial bog moss that forms the so-called sphagnum bogs.
Its peculiarity is that it actually has no roots - its lower part gradually dies off and turns into peat, while the upper part continues to grow.
Properties of sphagnum
- Amazing hygroscopicity
- Excellent breathability
- Antibacterial properties
- Sphagnum does not contain nutrients and is acidic (pH about 3.0).
- According to available data, sphagnum itself is not susceptible to any diseases.
Application of sphagnum 
- Laying logs
- Transportation of root crops
- Floristics
- Medicine
- Detergents and disinfectants
- Floriculture
Sphagnum moss will stop bleeding from a wound. It will be useful to wash the burn with water squeezed from a bunch of sphagnum. Or apply moss to the burned area. It’s a good idea to put a pad of sphagnum moss under a splint applied to a broken arm or leg - this will soften the pain and help avoid swelling.
To eliminate the unpleasant odor from shoes, it is enough to place several stalks of sphagnum moss as insoles. By the way, this will help cope with such a difficult-to-treat disease as foot fungus!
The water flowing from the sphagnum bog can be drunk completely without fear. It is usually dark because it is infused with peat. But there are no pathogenic microorganisms in it - a biological filter made of sphagnum mosses did its best!
Sphagnum moss is also used in the construction of wooden buildings. Logs from the log house are laid on it (as well as on the cuckoo flax). Due to the peculiarities of its structure, moss has low thermal conductivity and reliably insulates the interior from the cold outside. Sphagnum moss also disinfects logs from pests (for example, fungus).
Lay the moss as follows. A bunch of moss is taken, loosened a little and placed on the logs. Then you need to press it a little with your palm. The next portion of moss is laid so as to overlap the previous bunch by about five centimeters. The thickness of the moss layer should be about one and a half centimeters.
How to collect moss 
- To collect moss, it is better to choose a non-swampy area; the most suitable place for collecting moss is near trees, where the moss is least watery
- There are two ways to collect sphagnum:
completely removing it along with the roots (this makes it larger in volume, but it requires a long, thorough cleaning);
cutting off the upper surface part with a knife - it turns out smaller, longer, but better. - Sphagnum moss can be collected and laid in bunches
- Harvesting sphagnum is done mainly by hand. For harvesting, places are selected in which the moss of the desired type is as free as possible from plant impurities
- Moss is collected selectively, in “trenches” 20-30 cm wide with the same spaces between them, left untouched. This allows the moss to gradually recover in the collection areas. Repeated harvesting in such an area is possible only after 7-10 years
- For medicinal purposes, the entire living part of sphagnum is used and harvested. Harvesting is carried out from May to September in dry sunny weather.
To collect sphagnum you will need:
- Rubber boots
- Plastic bags
- Plaster (the number of cuts can be large - I know from myself! And mostly not from a knife, but from sedge, which often grows through sphagnum).
- Gloves (they are not so convenient to work in, but they still protect your hands)
Drying moss
Drying moss on hangers is the most suitable way to dry moss. Moss hung on a hanger is well ventilated, maintaining its elasticity. Hangers are made from trunks and small trees. 
A – support posts
B – jibs for stability of the rack
B – place for laying moss
Hung, placed under a canopy, covering the moss from rain, fog and sun.
Keeping Sphagnum Alive
To keep sphagnum alive, it must be stored in closed plastic bags in frost or cold (refrigerator or freezer), we store it outside. When necessary, defrost it and it will come to life! Everything is as in natural conditions! You can also grow moss: cut off the green parts of the moss and place them in a tray with wet peat, remembering to water it constantly. They say it looks beautiful! :)
Moss - to help the gardener
Gardeners, and especially those who grow domestic plants, often use this swamp moss. Fans of rare orchids simply cannot do without it.
And those who go on vacation can entrust the “watering” of flowers to sphagnum moss - just wet the moss and cover the plant in the pot with it. The soil will remain moist for a long time.
Housewives used this moss to germinate seeds, and this experience was adopted by gardeners. And for good rooting of cuttings, chopped sphagnum stems can be mixed into the soil.
But you shouldn’t use peat from a sphagnum bog in the garden! Indeed, due to the abundance of organic acids, such peat strongly acidifies the soil, which is unacceptable for most cultivated plants.
White sphagnum moss is quite popular among amateur gardeners. This is due, first of all, to its ability to absorb a sufficiently large amount of moisture and retain it for a long time, without any harm to its tissue base. The presence of natural antiseptic substances in the tissues of sphagnum turns it into a good natural antiseptic, so it is no coincidence that the roots of trees and shrubs are wrapped in wet moss to transport seedlings, shrubs and flower crops over long distances.
Many gardeners use sphagnum for storing dug tubers various garden crops. To do this, just dig up the plant tubers, free them from soil and small roots, dry them and wrap them in damp pieces of moss. Place all resulting lumps in a cardboard box and place in a cool, dark place. This is enough to ensure that the tubers remain fresh and intact until replanting. 
Gardeners use sphagnum as natural fighter of various fungal diseases, powdery mildew, to kill slugs, insect pests and snails. To do this, it is enough to infuse several kilograms of sphagnum in ordinary water, strain the resulting mixture and spray the affected bushes, flowers, or tree trunks several times in the evening. This treatment will be enough for one season. To destroy slugs or snails, it is enough to treat the places where they accumulate with the same liquid.
Has become very popular in recent years using sphagnum moss as a natural substrate for making hanging baskets, flowerpots, or wooden carved pots for flowers and various plants. Pieces of sphagnum moss cut to size are used as drainage, which only need to be wetted before use. Such improvised garden additions to landscape design in the form of various shaped pots, with always fresh and blooming plants, will be a good addition to any garden plot. 
