Sphagnum Moss
Sphagnum cymbilifolium
Family: Sphagnaceae
What it is like
Sphagnum cymbilifolium is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0.3
Where it is found
Wet and boggy spots, preferably on peaty soils, mostly near heather, on mountains and on moors, forming large or small patches where there is sufficient lime-free water.
Northern Temperate zones.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 3
The whole fresh plant is antiseptic. Because of its absorptive properties, it makes an excellent wound dressing and has been widely employed for this purpose in the past. Its use is said to have saved the lives of thousands of soldiers in the First World War. The moss is dried thoroughly before use. A tar extracted from the decaying moss is antiseptic and is seen as a valuable external application in the treatment of eczema, psoriasis, pruritus and many other forms of skin diseases. It is very beneficial for allaying irritation from insect bites and can also serve as a preventative to being bitten.
Antiseptic: Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.
Eczema: Used in the treatment of eczema - a chronic health condition that affects the skin, causing redness, dryness, itching and infections.
Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.
Stings: Used in the treatment of stings and insect bites.
Other
Rating:
The fresh plant is permeated with minute tubes and spaces, resulting in a system of delicate capillary tubes that has the effect of a very fine sponge. The dried plant can absorb up to 16 times its own weight of water and so has been found to be effective when used for surgical dressings, sanitary towels, babies nappies etc. The moss can absorb moisture laterally, as well as from above, it holds onto all the moisture until fully soaked before releasing any. Thus a dressing of the moss needs to be changed less frequently than cotton wool dressings. Sphagnum moss also makes a good packing material for protecting delicate items in transit, it can be used as a cotton wool substitute and as a potting material for many species of orchid. The semi-decomposed plant, excavated from bogs, is a first rate soil conditioner and is also used in seed and potting composts. However, the extensive use of this product is leading to the destruction of many natural moss bogs, a delicate habitat that takes centuries to be restored. Small scale use of sphagnum moss peat is probably sustainable for local use but alternatives need to be sought for larger scale use.
Baby care: Various plants that can be used in place of items such as nappies.
Bedding: Used as a lining for sleeping on or putting fruits etc on.
Compost: Plants used for activating compost heaps, providing biomass for composting, using as instant compost etc.
Cotton wool: Plants that can be used as substitutes for cotton wool.
Lining: Used for lining boxes, baskets etc so that fragile items can be more safely carried in them.
Mulch: Used for covering the ground to conserve the nutrients in the soil.
Packing: Used as a filler in boxes etc in order to protect the contents.
Repellent: Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.
How it is grown
Plants only grow in clean acid water and dislike any form of manure. They succeed in full sun or in partial shade. Sphagnum moss grows on wet acid soils. Due to the nature of its habitat, the dead plants do not decompose as quickly as new dead material is produced. Thus there is a gradual build up of organic matter, which is known as sphagnum moss peat, and over large periods of time this can produce deposits many metres thick. The effect of sphagnum is to gradually fill in wet areas such as ponds and lakes, producing its own unique habitat for a variety of plants and animals. Sphagnum moss peat has found a wide range of applications, especially in horticulture, but this has lead to over-exploitation as large volumes of the peat have been extracted and the habitats destroyed. It can take centuries for the habitats to be restored, though often the extent of the damage precludes any restoration.
Propagating it: The plant is easily propagated by division. The whole plant can be chopped up into small pieces and each piece will grow into a new plant.
Best place to grow: Bog Garden;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness:
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist