SafePlants

Sphagnum: Peat Moss

Sphagnum is a genus encompassing approximately 120-160 species of mosses, commonly known as peat moss.

Considerations for Pets

• Dried Sphagnum moss is utilized as an insulating material. This form may be present in and around homes in Arctic regions.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Genus: Sphagnum
• Common Name: Peat Moss
• Class: Sphagnales

Distribution and Habitat

• Sphagnum mosses are found in circumpolar Arctic vegetation.
• They are prevalent in Arctic Alaska tundra and various locations in Svalbard.
• Specific locations mentioned include Toolik Permanent Plots, Imnavait Creek Arctic, and the vicinity of Barrow along the northern coast of Arctic Alaska.
• Sphagnum magellanicum is common in ombrotrophic mires in the southern arctic, boreal, and nemoral regions.

Ecological Role

• Sphagnum moss communities in the Arctic are subject to changes due to longer growing seasons, which can affect species diversity, carbon cycling, and nutrient cycling.

Morphological Characteristics

• The text refers to branch tips of Sphagnum being used for DNA content measurement.

Genetic and Cytological Information

• DNA content of cell nuclei in Sphagnum species has been measured using the Feulgen method. DNA contents of the examined species are very similar.

Species within Sphagnum

• Sphagnum arcticum
• Sphagnum beringiense
• Sphagnum capillifolium
• Sphagnum fuscum
• Sphagnum magellanicum
• Sphagnum riparium
• Sphagnum skyense
• Sphagnum tundrae

Quirky Facts

• Scientists in the Russian Arctic have developed a "fast food" made from sphagnum and reindeer moss.