Peat Moss

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Peat Moss, also called sphagnum moss and bog moss, common name for about 300 species of moss plants that grow in swamps and bogs throughout the world. Peat moss may grow to 30 cm (12 in) or more in height. The plants have many branches covered with small, light green leaves. The leaves and stems have special cells that absorb and hold much water.

Peat moss is one of the most common plants from which peat, a fuel, is produced. When the plants die, the dead organic matter is preserved more or less intact because the moss is acidic, so bacterial and fungal decay occurs slowly. The dead peat moss and other plants are compressed by the weight of the living plants growing above them. This compressed matter eventually forms the peat. The peat can be cut into blocks and removed for use as fuel. Peat moss is also useful in gardening. It combats excessive alkalinity in the soil and produces the acid environment that certain plants need to grow, including such ornamental shrubs as rhododendrons. Its absorptive characteristics make peat moss useful as a packing material for shipping plants.

Scientific classification: Peat mosses are members of the family Sphagnaceae. They belong to the genus Sphagnum.


Moss Growing on a Tree Trunk
There are over 14,000 species of primitive plants called mosses belonging to the phylum Bryophyta. Most species are terrestrial and, although requiring abundant moisture, are highly adaptable, living on rocks, tree trunks, stumps, wooden buildings, and asphalt roofing shingles. Several species are adapted for life in bogs, swamps, and streams.


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