Sphagnum (moss) - Useful Properties And Uses Of Sphagnum, Sphagnum Leaf, Types Of Sphagnum. Sphagnum Marsh, Mossy

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Sphagnum

Useful properties and application of marsh sphagnum moss

Description of sphagnum

Sphagnum is a unique spore plant that does not have roots. Such an unusual perennial forms a rather thick soft carpet of light green hue. The turf of this plant consists of a large number of individual elements that grow tops annually. When the lower part dies off, a special brown peat layer appears. The low, thin stem is planted with small narrow awl-shaped leaves. The moisture capacity of the protruding leaf plates is due to special pore cells.

This moss is very common in the tundra, polar-arctic and forest zones of borderless Siberia. As a rule, such a plant prefers high bogs and northern forests.

Useful properties of sphagnum

The presented plant contains phenol-like substances and triterpene compounds, resins, sugars, pectin elements and other substances. Thanks to this composition, sphagnum prevents wound suppuration. Such a hygroscopic perennial is used as a dressing, which may not even be sterilized before use.

The revealed bactericidal properties of the leaves make them unique. The incredible suction power is much stronger than ordinary cotton wool. The air permeability of sphagnum is such that even in a rather wet form, this moss is excellent for air permeability. Along with the antibacterial and disinfecting effect, disinfecting and antifungal properties of the plant were found.

The use of sphagnum

Such wonderful moss as sphagnum has been used for a long time in the form of dressings due to its unique effect on the human body. Special substances determine its antiseptic and wound healing properties.

In the event of a fracture, for transportation, you can put this plant under the tire, which will become a kind of softening pad. It will help prevent friction between the skin and the tire while also acting as a disinfectant. The plant is also used for dressings and for making highly absorbent medical tampons.

The antifungal and antibacterial effect of sphagnum can be used to seriously combat various fungal skin diseases. This slightly dried plant can be used to make excellent shoe insoles. In addition, sphagnum will help to cope with unpleasant foot odor and increased sweating.

Sphagnum leaf

Unique sphagnum leaves are tiny, almost invisible scales. They cover the stem and its branches very densely. Such thin plates have a microscopic structure. When magnified under a microscope, you can see a kind of green grid with small white cells.

Each cell consists of many elongated living cells that are connected to each other at their ends. Upon closer examination, the emerald glow of the leaf plate will become noticeable.

There are transparent, irregularly oval-shaped spaces between the cells. Such cell reservoirs are considered dead and empty. Scientists call them aquiferous hyaline cells. When moss gets wet, such cells are filled with moisture, due to which the plant acquires a greenish tint. The capacity of these cages is simply amazing: moss saturated with water can weigh 20 times more than dry.

Sphagnum species

Numerous plant species grow in rather dense and dense clusters. They are able to form solid carpets or large pillows in special sphagnum bogs.

Dry sphagnum. This species has unusual leaf plates that have special cells. They are able to retain huge amounts of fluid. Dry sphagnum moss is often used in summer cottages to shelter heat-loving plants. This moss will keep trees and shrubs from freezing in winter. In addition, the presented moss is an excellent fertilizer.

Swamp sphagnum. Such dioecious moss forms significant light yellow tussocks. Multilayer stems have outer cells with pores and spiral thickenings on the walls. Rectangular stem leaves with special fibers do not have a lateral border. The plant is expressed in chlorophyll-bearing cells. The distribution area is located in the northern borders of the plain areas. In Russia, such a plant is often found in Siberia, the Urals, the Far East, and also in the Caucasus. In some European countries, you can also find dense thickets of bog sphagnum.

Sphagnum is mossy. The presented species is a very soft and porous plant with dense stems and spiral clusters. Numerous branches are located on the stems, which form an unusual shaggy head at the very top. Small leaves are expressed with a light green tint. They cover the stem densely. Under the microscope, you can see an uncountable number of unique cells that are highly hygroscopic. These narrow greenish cells are connected by their ends, due to which the mesh structure is visible. The transparent dead compartments are designed to be filled with moisture. These kind of water tanks easily draw in moisture and condense vapors.

Contraindications to the use of sphagnum

No contraindications for the use of sphagnum have been identified.

The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist

Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).