Sphagnum Moss

When: Year round

Scientific name: Sphagnum

Gaelic name: mòinteach

Size: Around 5cm in length for individual strands, clumps can be up to 1m in diameter

Where: Carpeting boggy areas; Wester Moss SSSI

Even if you're not a keen naturalist, you may well have heard of sphagnum moss before, as it is one of the most important species found in our precious, declining peatland habitats. Sphagnum mosses have unique properties that help to maintain peatland sites at a local level, but also play a crucial role in the globally important issue of combating climate change.

Sphagnum is actually an entire genus of moss, made up of over 350 different species. Around ten different species can be found in the Inner Forth area, growing in damp, boggy conditions. A single strand of moss can measure 5cm in length, however individuals will grow so close to each other that they form dense, spongey hummocks around the bog. The wet conditions of the bogs are in part thanks to the sphagnum itself - these mosses can hold up to 8 times their own weight in water, stored in porous cells in the moss' leaves. This means that even if the surrounding habitat dries out, the moss can retain a healthy supply of water.

At first glance, the different species of sphagnum moss can look very similar, however they do vary in colour from vivid green to golden yellow, rose pink right through to scarlet red. Other defining characteristics of each species are miniscule, such as the detail in the tiny leaves along the stem, whether they are curved or triangular, whether they point up or down. To get an accurate identification, you would need a hand lens to check these almost microscopic details. The truly fascinating property of sphagnum is its ability to form peat. When plants die, they are usually consumed by bacteria and fungi that break down the organism and recycle the nutrients back into the earth. The acidic, water logged conditions of sphagnum habitat do not allow for this, and so the dead moss accumulates and eventually gets compressed over thousands of years, forming peat soil. The chemical make-up of this soil means it is an incredible store of carbon, making it an important asset in alleviating climate change.

Sphagnum and peat have been historically important, with humans finding many uses for these materials over the years. There are records of sphagnum moss being used as early as 1513 by Scottish Highlanders when bandaging wounds; because of its highly absorbent properties, the moss would create a kind of sterile environment by soaking up potential harmful fluids. This method was used as recently as World War 1! Peat it also a brilliant fuel and was once harvested in blocks as a fuel source over the winter. Some communities in rural Scotland still practise the traditional methods of peat harvesting, albeit in a more sustainable manner these days. The burning of peat was used by many whisky distilleries in the Scottish isles before more modern fuels such as coal and gas were available. It is in fact the burning of peat that gives whisky its distinctive smoky flavour, so next time you settle down for a wee dram, spare a thought for the mossy bogs that helped to create that fine single malt in your hand!

For more information on these marvellous mosses, have a look at: http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/education/sphagnum%20moss.pdf

Photo: Sphagnum palustre, Kritian Peters, wikimedia