Sphagnum moss is well known to flower lovers and not only. It is also used in medicine, animal husbandry, and construction. Other names for sphagnum are white moss, peat moss, sphagnum. This plant is involved in maintaining the balance of the forest ecosystem. It is from this that peat reserves are formed. Moss has a specific place in the food chain.
Where does sphagnum grow and what does it look like?
White moss lives in swampy forest areas. It can be found in different corners the globe, but more often it is common in the northern territories. Translated from Greek, sphagnum sounds like “natural sponge.” This name is no coincidence; it is caused by the hygroscopic properties of the plant. Compared to other mosses, sphagnum has a much lighter color.
This moss has no roots. As sphagnum dies over time, it turns into peat. Rotting processes do not affect it due to the antibacterial properties inherent in this plant. Some people don’t know why sphagnum is called white moss, but the whole point is that when the plant dries, it turns white. During the growth of moss, low, erect shoots are formed, which form a dense cushion not exceeding 5 cm. The plant in the description is represented by several varieties. For example, protruding sphagnum forms taller and looser clumps.
Sphagnum does not have a single stem, but consists of phyllidia and caulidia, which absorb mineral salts and water, thus receiving nutrition. The role of rhizoids is performed by young sections of the stem and leaves. Over time, their suction function is lost, and they only help the marsh moss to stay in the substrate. Spores ripen in special boxes that form at the ends of the upper branches.
If you look at the structure of sphagnum under a microscope, its leaves consist of 2 types of cells. Green and living ones contain chloroplasts, which are involved in photosynthesis. Dead cells are large and colorless formations. Their role is to retain large volumes of moisture. The shoots of the plant have an openwork pattern and give an airy appearance sphagnum During the rainy season, moss absorbs water and then gradually releases it into the environment, thus maintaining the water balance of the ecosystem.
Reproduction of "natural sponge"
Scientists have long established how sphagnum reproduces. Reproduction occurs through spores and vegetatively. The rate of reproduction of bog sphagnum largely depends on the composition of the soil. The “sponge” spreads most quickly in damp grassy areas with low soil acidity, near trees, and near swamps. The most productive way is propagation by spores:
Mechanism vegetative propagation effective only over short distances. In this case, the moss reproduces in sections of the stem.
Areas of use
“Natural sponge” is widely used in various economic fields. In some places, sphagnum moss is collected on an industrial scale. However, it is often prepared for personal needs. It is interesting to know where sphagnum moss can be useful and what it is used for:
To collect raw materials yourself, you can go to the nearest forest with wetlands, where it will not be difficult to find white moss. The process of collecting and subsequent storage of “natural sponge” is also not particularly difficult.
How to collect and store
Soft forest moss does not require the use of any special devices during the collection process. It is collected with bare hands or wearing gloves. An adult can easily pull moss out of the soil. After collection, the sphagnum must be squeezed out to remove excess moisture and laid out in the sun to dry. If you plan to use the plant for decorative purposes, do not squeeze it out and dry it for a shorter time.
When collecting, it is better not to pull out the plant completely, but to cut off the upper part of the pillow with scissors. Then the remaining moss in the soil will continue to grow, producing new branches, and it will gradually recover. If the plant is intended to be used as a substrate, it must be doused with boiling water to kill the insects living in it.
It is better not to dry sphagnum moss in special household dryers, as in this case it will dry unevenly. The collected raw materials can be stored in the freezer.
Sphagnum (peat moss) is a bog plant, a genus of moss from which peat is formed. Due to its low thermal conductivity, sphagnum is used in construction as insulating material. In a dry state, sphagnum mosses can absorb approximately 20 times their own weight in water, which is 4 times the capacity of absorbent cotton wool. Thanks to this, moss got its name - “sphagnos”, which translated from Greek means “sponge”.
There are several main groups of mosses, one of them is green mosses. In many forests you can often find green moss “cuckoo flax”; it is very brightly colored, has a bright green color, and you will not confuse it, for example, with sphagnum moss.
Sphagnum in nature is lighter colored than green mosses and has a light green color, and when dried it is almost white, which is why it is called white moss.
Mosses are found on all continents of our planet, but most species still live in the northern hemisphere. For example, sphagnum moss is found from the subtropics to the polar regions, but is most abundant in the temperate zone. It is best to look for sphagnum in a raised bog.
Raised bog is formed by stagnation surface waters on flat depressions of watersheds. The water of such a swamp is sharply acidic, tea-colored, rich in humus components, poor minerals. Vegetation characteristic of raised bogs is wild rosemary, cotton grass, cranberry and sphagnum moss, and in the north there is dwarf birch. Raised bogs often have a convex shape because moss grows faster in the middle part of the bog.
If you find yourself in a raised bog, you will not confuse sphagnum with any other plant. It covers huge areas with a very soft, bright lime carpet. But you shouldn’t fall on it, because there is water below and you can get quite wet.
Unlike many other mosses, sphagnum does not have roots, so it grows very densely and one plant supports another. If you take one sprig of sphagnum, you will see that only the upper part of the plant is alive. Next comes the whitish part, and the lower part of the moss gradually dies off. Indeed, sphagnum moss grows at the top every year, and the lower part dies off, but does not rot, because below, firstly, there is not enough oxygen, and secondly, the moss itself releases substances that prevent rotting and have bactericidal properties. It is these substances that are mainly used and used in medicine. So, the lower part does not die, but forms a substance called peat.
Many people know what peat is. Firstly, peat is a fuel, and primarily it is used for this purpose, but peat is also known to gardeners and gardeners. It is added to the soil and seedlings are grown in it. Peat is also a chemical raw material from which a variety of substances are produced, including medical alcohol.
Beneficial properties of sphagnum moss
From a medical point of view, sphagnum has three very important properties. Firstly, it is highly hygroscopic, that is, the ability to absorb moisture. For comparison: the same volume of sphagnum moss and cotton wool will absorb different amounts of moisture. If you measure these data, it turns out that sphagnum absorbs 20 - 25 times more moisture than cotton wool. The second property of sphagnum is its breathability; even when wet, this moss allows air to pass through very well, whereas cotton wool, for example, sticks together and forms a certain crust. And the third property is antibacterial, but first things first.
The ability to absorb huge amounts of moisture is due to the cellular structure of this moss. If you look at a moss leaf under a microscope, you can see that in addition to the usual green cells that contain chlorophyll and in which photosynthesis occurs, just like in any other green plant, there are special air-bearing cells. They will be dead and their shells will be quite dense. If you take dry moss and examine it, these cells will be filled with air, but when we soak it, these cells are filled with water and are capable of holding a huge amount of moisture.
High hygroscopicity allows the use of sphagnum as a dressing. It absorbs huge amounts of blood, pus and other fluids. Moreover, it was used not only during the war, but now doctors are increasingly resorting to this remedy. But unlike cotton wool, for example, sphagnum also has antibacterial and disinfecting properties. The antibacterial, disinfectant and even antifungal properties of sphagnum are due to the substances that are included in its composition. First of all, it is a phenol-like substance called ‘sphagnol’. This substance was not isolated in other plants, only in sphagnum, and, of course, humic or sphagnum acids exhibiting antibiotic properties.
For a long time they tried to figure out what is the best solvent for these substances, how best to extract them from plants. We used a variety of substances - water, ethanol, ether, but found that the best solvent was ordinary distilled water. It is this property of water to work as a solvent and absorb everything useful substances contained in sphagnum allows some experts to claim that the most clean water There is swamp water in the forest. Therefore, if you find yourself in a forest near a raised bog and find dark, unpleasant-looking water, do not be afraid, most likely you can drink it, but it is advisable to boil it thoroughly before doing so.
The bactericidal properties of sphagnum can be used not only for cuts, but also for burns and frostbite.
Many people know what needs to be done in the event of a fracture, say, of a limb. It is necessary to apply a splint and transport the patient to a medical facility. But few people know that the splint should not be placed directly on the body. Some kind of softening pad is needed and in this case sphagnum is ideal. In addition to the fact that it will soften possible impacts and friction between the tire and the skin, it will also act as a disinfectant if there is any surface damage.
There is evidence that sphagnum moss has been used as a dressing since the 11th century, and possibly even earlier. But also in our 21st century modern medicine comes to the conclusion that sphagnum is a more effective remedy than, for example, cotton wool and the production of sphagnum-gauze tampons is resumed. To do this, sphagnum is additionally sterilized and impregnated with a solution of boric acid, which further enhances its antibacterial properties. But at home you can use non-sterilized sphagnum moss.
There are a huge number of different microorganisms flying around us in the air, including staphylococcus. So it is safe and harmless for us, but as soon as our immunity weakens a little, it immediately sits on our skin and begins to multiply, thereby bringing a lot of trouble. How to avoid this and how to deal with it? Peat water is ideal for this. Simply squeeze out the moss collected from the swamp and rinse the affected areas with this water. Or apply wet moss to the place where you have a similar infection.
In addition, you can take a bath with sphagnum moss. To do this, sphagnum is cut into small pieces and poured hot water 70 – 80 °C, allow to cool and then pour the infusion into the bath. But keep in mind that taking such a bath increases sweating and after that you need to wrap yourself in a warm bathrobe or lie down under a blanket.
The antibacterial and antifungal properties of sphagnum can also be used to combat fungal skin diseases. An excellent remedy is sphagnum insoles. You can make them yourself by simply putting a little dried moss in your shoes. Firstly, the insole will be soft, comfortable and will fit your foot; in addition, sphagnum moss will help cope with increased sweating and avoid unpleasant odors.
The use of sphagnum moss in construction
The special properties of sphagnum make it possible to use this moss not only in medicine, but also in many other areas of human activity, for example, in construction. Surely everyone knows that during construction wooden houses you need insulation, which is placed between the logs. Now in the construction markets there is a huge selection of a wide variety of insulation materials, including synthetic ones. But if you want your house or bathhouse to last for many years, then it is best to take sphagnum. Firstly, this moss has bactericidal properties, and the log house will last much longer and will not rot. Secondly, if you are building a bathhouse, then the hygroscopic properties of this moss allow you to smooth out changes in humidity, and this will also help ensure that the bathhouse will last much longer.
The use of sphagnum in gardening
Sphagnum moss is not only an assistant in construction, but also, one might say, a gardener's dream, especially a lazy one. For example, if you leave home for a long period in the summer, you can put sphagnum moistened in water in flower pots. It will gradually release moisture into the soil and this will prevent your plants from withering. In addition, finely chopped sphagnum moss is usually mixed with soil and ready mixture used for planting indoor plants. Again, this will allow the soil to remain moist longer.
In addition, sphagnum can also be used for rooting cuttings of indoor plants, as well as some garden bushes or shrubs. In this case, sphagnum is moistened or wet sphagnum is taken from nature, finely torn and mixed with soil. After which the cuttings are planted in this moist soil. They need to be slightly buried and left to take root. Experiments show that the number of rotting roots with this cultivation will be significantly less than with any other method.
Most often, sphagnum moss is used by lovers of orchids and violets. Sometimes even in flower shops Sphagnum moss is sold in small packages. For what? Firstly, it is capable of acidifying the soil, and this necessary condition for normal growing of violets. The more acidic the environment, the brighter and prettier the border on the leaves of these plants will be. Orchids do have aerial roots, with the help of which they absorb moisture not from the soil, like other plants, but from the air. These roots must be constantly moistened because the humidity is very high in the tropics where these flowers grow. But how can this be achieved in our ordinary city apartment, when our air humidity is always below normal? In this case, the roots of the orchids are entangled or covered with fresh sphagnum, which is constantly sprayed with water. If you resort to this remedy, then you will not need to spray these aerial roots five times a day; it is enough to do it only once.
Dry sphagnum moss can also be used on summer cottage, for example, in order to cover plants that are afraid of frost. It will perfectly retain heat and allow your pets to stay warm in winter. In addition, sphagnum produces such a mineral as peat, which is an excellent fertilizer. Surely, all summer residents who plant seedlings in the spring are familiar with peat pots, in which you can plant your seedlings, and then, without replanting, transfer the plant into the soil together with the pot. The pot will not only quickly rot, but will also provide additional fertilizer to the growing roots.
Use of sphagnum in beekeeping and livestock farming
This amazing plant may also be of interest to amateur beekeepers. For example, not many people know that pressed dry sphagnum can be used to make insulation for hives for the winter so that the bees do not freeze. And in order to maintain a constant level of humidity inside the hive, moss is used, which is dried in air at room temperature. If such moss is placed down under the hive, it will absorb excess moisture and at the same time additionally disinfect the space, which will help avoid various unpleasant diseases in bees. And, most importantly, with increased dryness of the air, it will begin to release moisture, and this will allow the honey in the combs not to become sugary.
Sphagnum moss can also be used as bedding for pets. Moreover, these can be those animals that live in your apartment, for example in a cage (rats, hamsters, guinea pigs). Sphagnum absorbs odors very well and therefore can be used as a litter for your pets' home litter boxes. Sphagnum can be used as bedding not only for pets, but also for fairly large agricultural animals. In this case, the sphagnum moss left after work, mixed with the droppings of these animals, will be the best fertilizer.
Collection and storage of sphagnum moss
To collect sphagnum you will not need any additional technical devices - just your hands, possibly gloves and a container where you will put the collected sphagnum. The moss is taken completely from its lower parts to the very top and put into some kind of bag in which you will carry it to the place of drying. Before drying it, you must first squeeze out the sphagnum moss. The first spin is done by hand, after which the sphagnum is laid out on mesh trays. Drying is done outdoors - in the breeze and sun.
Unlike many others medicinal plants, sphagnum can be dried in the sun; it is not at all necessary to hide it in the shade and under a roof. Sphagnum takes quite a long time to dry, but you still shouldn’t use artificial drying, because in this case it will dry unevenly. But the degree of drying depends on how you plan to use it in the future. If you plan to use it for medical purposes, then drying can be almost complete (until crunchy, brittle). In this case, sphagnum can be stored either in a plastic bag or wrapped in plain paper. If drying is done for decorative purposes, for floriculture, then in this case the shoots should remain as long as possible; You shouldn’t break them, and it is for this reason that drying should not be done completely, so that the sphagnum remains slightly damp. It is best to store it wrapped in paper, this will allow it to maintain the level of humidity characteristic of the surrounding air.
The history of the introduction of sphagnum into the official medical industry is interesting. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, sphagnum was packaged and sent to all provinces of Russia. Along with these packages, doctors and paramedics received a special questionnaire in which they had to evaluate the properties of this new dressing material. The results revealed that almost all doctors highly appreciated sphagnum, its hygroscopicity, friability and its antibacterial properties.
The properties of sphagnum are truly unique, and the plant, in general, is not rare, so the next time you walk through the forest, be sure to pick up a certain amount of this moss for yourself, bring it home and dry it. You will surely find a use for it.
Sphagnum moss, or sphagnum, is a genus of bog moss, the main source of the formation of high-moor peat, a perennial spore plant. Belongs to the family Sphagnaceae and is its only modern genus. Peat moss grows in damp places and contributes to waterlogging because it has the property of accumulating and retaining water. On the territory Russian Federation There are 42 common species of this plant, but more than three hundred are known in total.
The article provides characteristics of sphagnum mosses. Their structure and life cycle will be described. In addition, it will talk about how people used sphagnum moss in the past.
Structure and description
Where does sphagnum moss grow? It grows, as mentioned above, in swamps, next to plants such as wild rosemary, cranberries, and blueberries. On its stems you can see three different types branches. Branches growing horizontally, thanks to interweaving with neighboring shoots, help the moss to grow vertically. Drooping branches absorb and conduct water to the very top of the plant. What is amazing about the sphagnum moss plant? The accumulated moisture can be 20-25 times the weight of the plant itself!
The tip cells are responsible for the growth of sphagnum moss. They grow, forming something like a hat. The plant lacks rhizoids (thin threads that attach mosses to the soil, a kind of analogue of roots). It does not need them, since, unlike, for example, cuckoo moss, it absorbs water not with rhizoids, but with its entire surface.
Due to the insufficient amount of oxygen in the swampy area and the presence in the body of sphagnum of a substance such as carbolic acid, which is a natural antiseptic, the plant practically does not rot. Its upper part grows by about 1-3 cm per year, and the lower (underwater) dies off annually. Dry sphagnum moss turns into peat after death. The formation of this mineral in swamps occurs at a rate of 1-2 mm per year.
Plant leaves
Small leaves sphagnum moss - single-layer. They contain two types of cells: chlorophyll-bearing, living, and hyaline, dead. Hyaline - large, diamond-shaped, containing spiral or ring-shaped formations of hyaline inside. It is a hygroscopic substance, and thanks to these structures dead cells sphagnum moss are capable of absorbing and storing water. Aquifer cells make up 2/3 of the leaf surface. Around each of them there are 4-6 living, chlorophyll-bearing plants, performing the traditional function of photosynthesis for plants. The tops of sphagnum moss may have different colors, from green to reddish or brown, and look very picturesque. Experts attribute differences in color to weather conditions.
If you look at the sphagnum thickets from the side, you can clearly see three distinct zones. The upper one is lively, green (yellowish, brownish), up to five centimeters thick. The middle one, yellowish-brown, five to ten centimeters wide, represents a transition from living cells to hyaline cells. Chlorophyll-bearing cells are still present in it. Even lower, sphagnum consists of dying cells and is light brown in color (usually below the water level). These are the structural features of sphagnum mosses.
Life cycle and reproduction
In the life cycle of all bryophytes, the predominance of the haploid gametophyte over the diploid sporophyte is noted, and sphagnum is no exception. The sexual generation is called a gametophyte, and the asexual generation is called a sporophyte.
Male germ cells, biflagellate spermatozoa, mature in antheridia. These are single-layer formations resembling bags. Female reproductive cells, accordingly, mature in female organs reproduction - archegonia located on female gametophytes in the upper internodes. These are bottle-shaped structures, the wide part of which contains eggs. Antheridia and archegonia always grow on different shoots,
Sphagnum moss needs water to fertilize. If it is present, spermatozoa enter the archegonia. A sporophyte develops from a fertilized cell (zygote). Its components are a capsule with a developing sporangium, located on a stalk, and a haustorium, which provides communication with the gametophyte and is a nutritional organ. In sporangia, haploid spores are formed by reduction division. By the time they mature, the stalk lengthens and the sporophyte is carried upward above the leaves. The capsule is destroyed, the spores fall out and are scattered over the surface of the soil. As the results of the experiment showed, sphagnum spores are able to maintain germination after 10-13 years!
After germination, a short lamellar protonema (pregrowth) is formed from the spore. Rhizoids appear on it (as mentioned above, they are absent in an adult plant) and buds that develop into shoots with leaves. Initially, there is no division of cells into chlorophyll-containing and aquiferous cells; this difference appears later.
Types of sphagnum mosses
As mentioned above, scientists have not come to a consensus regarding the number of types of sphagnum. According to some sources, there are about 350 of them, according to others - 320, 382. All species are included in the genus Sphagnum, which, in turn, is the only one in the Sphagnaceae family. This family is also the only one included in the order Sphagnales of the same name. Its representatives differ markedly in their morphological, anatomical and biological characteristics from leafy mosses.
The type species is bog sphagnum, which is found everywhere in Russia. Other known species are Ongström's Sphagnum, common in Northern Europe, Japan, Korea, Far East Russia and Siberia; Hairy sphagnum, growing on the American continent and Ukraine; Sphagnum Magellan with an extremely wide distribution area (it does not grow only in Antarctica).
Use of sphagnum in floriculture and plant growing
The uses of sphagnum moss are varied. It has a long history. Some methods have faded into the background thanks to the development of science, while others are still relevant. Among the latter is the use of peat moss in floriculture. The EU countries, Japan and the USA annually import large volumes of sphagnum mosses for growing orchids. In it, young plants do not rot and develop well, after which they are eventually transplanted into a special substrate made from pieces of pine or coconut bark. Sphagnum moss at home can be used for rooting not only orchids, but also any flower cuttings.
Experienced gardeners advise using a mixture of soil with chopped sphagnum to heal sick plants with rotting tubers or roots that have been damaged by pests. Thanks to the natural antiseptics it contains, sphagnum moss heals the soil and helps heal damage to the underground parts of indoor flowers. Chopped moss can simply be added to the soil mixture - it promotes loosening, regulates moisture and disinfects the soil.
If you are going to leave home for a while, moss saturated with water can be placed in flower pots This will allow the flowers not to dry out, because the sphagnum will release moisture to the soil.
It must be remembered that in any case, the moss should be treated before use: scald with boiling water (it’s better to pour it in for 2-3 minutes), cool, and squeeze. Some gardeners advise to shed it after this liquid fertilizer(for example, “Kemiroy Lux”) and keep for two to three days in a plastic bag. Squeezed and dried moss can be stored for a long time, using as needed.
Mixtures for flowers based on sphagnum moss
Sphagnum moss is an excellent raw material for soil mixtures. Thus, thanks to the substances it contains, it contributes to the formation of an acidic environment, which is especially important for Gesneriaceae. For orchids and other epiphytes it represents an ideal substrate in its own right. You can chop it finely first sharp knife or rub through a sieve.
For growing Saintpaulia
Chopped sphagnum, river sand, fertile garden soil, leaf soil- take in equal parts.
For gloxinia
A bag of Vermion soil, a handful of chopped sphagnum, 1 tsp each. charcoal and flower fertilizer, 0.5 tsp. dolomite flour.
For cattleyas and orchids
Mix in equal parts pine bark and charcoal, add some chopped fern or sphagnum roots. The largest pieces of bark are placed on the bottom, medium ones - above, etc.
How to prepare moss for future use for flowers
A small amount of sphagnum moss can be refrigerated or even frozen. According to experts, flowers grow and develop better in living moss. To do this, you need to soak the sphagnum for about half an hour in water with a temperature of +45 degrees, then transfer it to plastic bags and store in a cool place. This way it can be stored for 2-3 months, and even longer if frozen. Freezing will not affect the properties of moss in any way.
Application in medicine: historical facts
How have people used sphagnum moss before, other than the methods described above? Before the advent of modern dressings, it was indispensable in medicine. The sphagnol contained in it, an anti-putrefactive substance, contributed to disinfection and, as a result, rapid healing of wounds. In addition to sphagnol, scientists isolated 6 phenolic acids and 6 coumarins from plant materials, which have bactericidal and antifungal properties. They have a depressing effect on staphylococcus and streptococcus, Vibrio cholerae, E. coli, salmonella... According to scientists, it is difficult to determine which pathogens sphagnum moss is powerless against. One of them is the causative agent of leprosy, but this disease is quite rare in our area.
In addition, sphagnum absorbs moisture evenly, and is able to do this in a volume exceeding its own, 6 times! Only after this the bandage begins to get wet. Therefore, it was widely used on the fronts of not only World War I, but also World War II. Its high hygroscopicity made it possible to change dressings less often than when using bandages and cotton wool. This made the work of medical personnel easier and made it possible not to disturb the wounded too often. During World War II, sheets of dressing material made from pressed sphagnum, wrapped in gauze, were centrally produced at British enterprises. Raw materials were supplied from Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
In emergency cases, when an injury was sustained in the forest, on a hike, etc., sphagnum moss remains indispensable for applying bandages. When transporting injured people with broken limbs, it is good to place it under a splint to improve immobilization and avoid compression and rubbing.
In medicine, there are known attempts to industrially produce medicines based on sphagnum. So, back in 1971, a biostimulant drug called “Peat” was released in the Soviet Union. It was recommended for use in myalgia, arthritis, radiculitis, and some eye diseases. However, this experience did not receive further distribution, and today the drug is in the register of domestic medicines not listed.
Application in household, construction
As for the more prosaic ways of using it, in agriculture in places where there is a lot of sphagnum moss, it is used as bedding for domestic animals. Some housewives recommend storing bags of vegetables on a bed of sphagnum moss, which in this case acts as a moisture accumulator. If the vegetables dry out, it gives it away, and if the room (or on the balcony), on the contrary, is humid, the sphagnum draws out excess water. In this way, the gifts of the fields will be better preserved.
Speaking about how people used sphagnum moss in the past, we cannot ignore its use as insulation. During the construction of wooden log houses, baths must be laid between the wooden parts with a material that will be quite hygroscopic, but at the same time breathable and not susceptible to rotting. And here this material is out of competition; the importance of sphagnum moss is enormous. In this capacity, it is still successfully used in the northern regions, because due to its bactericidal properties it does not rot, therefore, wooden buildings will be preserved better. At the same time, sphagnum has excellent thermal insulation properties.
In addition, sphagnum moss is widely used for the production of biofilters, as it is an excellent natural sorbent.
Speaking about how people used sphagnum moss before, it should be mentioned that among the northern peoples, mothers laid it in the cradle of their babies.
Harvesting moss for industry
In the northern regions of Russia, sphagnum is collected in dry and warm weather by local standards in August - September. Since the raw materials must be dried after collection, bad weather can seriously complicate the procurement of raw materials, or even disrupt it altogether. Moss is collected by hand, in strips no more than 30 centimeters wide, between which they are left untouched in the same size so that the cover can be restored. This will take less than seven years. Sphagnum moss is removed from the swamp in bags by hand and laid out on metal grates in drying areas. At this stage, impurities (garbage, leaves, other plants) are also removed from it. So that there were them initially minimum quantity, for collection, select areas located as far as possible from the forest.
The dried moss, ready for processing, is put into large bales and taken to the processing area, from where it is sent to customers.
Hello, dear forum users and site guests! Sphagnum moss is one of the most necessary components for growing violets. Its properties and uses have been written about many times, so I won’t dwell on it. Ready-made moss is rarely sold in stores, so most city residents have to order it online or look for on our own. Today I will tell you how you can find moss in an unfamiliar forest.
Typically, winter in our area rarely lasts more than 2 months, and moss can be harvested at any time. This year, the snow melted only in mid-April and the reserves of moss came to an end; we had to get out into the forest on the very first warm day. In all the lowlands there is melt water, forming picturesque lakes.
The moss has not yet woken up, thoroughly saturated with snow water.
But these are familiar places, so I quickly typed anyway required quantity moss for current needs. And last spring I just missed the bus and decided to look for moss in another forest, where they told me it was there. Finding moss in an unfamiliar forest is more difficult, but it is a completely solvable task if you know what signs to look for. Sphagnum grows in swampy lowlands, along the banks of forest streams and small swamp lakes.
In coniferous forests and oak groves the place is not suitable for it; it is extremely rarely found there. Tall aspen trees, which love wet lowlands, can be a reference point; you can find sphagnum under them.
In early spring, aspen trees bloom with gray fluffy catkins, showering them all around.
And so the long-forgotten touching song began to sound:
"The earring is alder, light, like down,
But if you touch her, everything in the world will turn out to be wrong..."
This time everything is the same for us, under the aspen trees it is the necessary sphagnum. Waking up after winter, sphagnum begins to grow quickly, forming soft green cushions.
There are many varieties of sphagnum, but the most suitable for violets is this one. In hollows with forest streams, overgrown with alder, there is a variety of sphagnum with thick, long, up to 25 cm stems of a lush green color, but such moss rarely grows in cushions and is often densely stitched with sharp marsh grass.
In dry times, the moss cushions dry out and become almost white, which is why sphagnum is also called white moss.
Sphagnum cushions with thin lacy stems are often found, but such moss is not very suitable, it quickly dries out and crumbles into dust.
But on my way I met a distant relative of our Saintpaulias - the forest violet.
Yes, not alone - but with a “tenant”
Forest blood-sucking ticks have grown in incredible numbers in recent decades. They wake up early spring with the first on warm days, and go into hibernation at the end of August - beginning of September.
And now they are multiplying en masse in recreation areas of city residents and in all spontaneous forest dumps.
Sometimes you just want to scream, seeing all this: today you brought a girl to a barbecue and didn’t take your trash back, feeling like a hero, but tomorrow you will come here with your children, and ticks, in gratitude for the shelter, can cripple them for life.
I rarely return from the forest now without uninvited guests pestering me. Here's one of these crawling along the lining of my windbreaker...
But if you're afraid of ticks, don't go into the forest, and I can't deprive myself of such pleasure. Spring is an amazing time. The forest is covered with green haze, white anemones are agitated in the wind.
Gentle and touching Caroline liverworts look trustingly and sincerely.
The first mushrooms woke up in the heat, I don’t dare check how edible they are :)
Bright marigolds shine with a deceptive fire - he ran into the light and swam in the icy water.
I hope my walk will help someone find moss in an unfamiliar forest. But even if it’s not there (well, it doesn’t grow in these parts!), the impressions from the walk will last for a long time.
Syn: peat moss, white moss.
Sphagnum is a genus of moss, spore-bearing perennial plants with thin stems and small elongated lanceolate leaves. The plant does not have a root system. Sphagnum is the main formation of peat, deposits of which are formed due to the death of stems, the growth of the upper part of the moss and its high moisture capacity. Sphagnum is widely known in medical practice in many countries; it has antiseptic, bactericidal, hemostatic and other beneficial properties.
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In medicine
Some types of sphagnum have found application in medicine in many countries of the world; sphagnum is not currently used in Russia. The hemostatic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, and hygroscopic properties of moss are known. Sphagnum has been used for many years in medical practice in European countries as a hygroscopic dressing material, since this moss is 25 times more hygroscopic than cotton wool and lingin.
Some pharmacological preparations based on sphagnum moss are known. In 1971, the drug Torfot was released in 1 ml ampoules (manufactured in Russia). This is a biogenic stimulant, the indications for use of which are arthritis, radiculitis, myalgia, some eye diseases (blepharitis, vitreous opacities, keratitis, myopathic chorioretinitis), periodontal disease and chronic gingivitis. At the moment, the drug Torfot is not listed in the State Register of Medicines.
Sphagnum moss has high gas and moisture absorption properties, and also has a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect against the pathological microflora of purulent wounds. In this regard, in many countries, moss is used both as a substitute for cotton wool and as an independent effective remedy for the treatment of infected (purulent) wounds.
Sphagnum moss with its absorbent properties is used to make diapers and sanitary napkins. Sphagnum moss is currently used by Johnson & Johnson.
The Chinese use a decoction of sphagnum moss as a disinfectant and antibacterial agent for bacterial infections. respiratory system, stomatitis, diseases of the nasopharynx and mucous membranes oral cavity. The Chinese medicine Polytrichum juniperinum contains sphagnum extract and is used to treat the prostate and bladder.
Contraindications and side effects
Medicines based on moss are not recommended for use in case of cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, acute gastrointestinal disorders, or certain diseases of the excretory system (nephrosonephritis). Contraindications to the use of sphagnum moss are individual intolerance, pregnancy, lactation, and childhood.
In floriculture
Sphagnum moss is widely used in gardening and indoor floriculture. It gives the soil the necessary lightness, hygroscopicity and looseness, due to which the delicate roots of plants penetrate deeper into the ground and are firmly fixed there. Sphagnum retains moisture well in the earthen coma and prevents the top layer of soil from drying out during prolonged drought. Flower growers use sphagnum moss to germinate leaves and establish young plants. Possessing bactericidal medicinal properties sphagnum prevents rotting of the root system. Moss is convenient and effective for propagating indoor plants air layering(dieffenbachia, dracaena, monstera, rubber ficus). It is used for forcing orchids, germinating large seeds, and rooting stem cuttings.
On the farm
Peat moss is widely used in many industries national economy. Sphagnum is used as packaging material during transportation, for storing vegetables and fruits, as bedding and feed for livestock, in powder form used for filling waste water, cesspools. In the paper industry, coarse grades of paper and cardboard are obtained from moss, and in the chemical industry - paints, tanning agents, etc. It is a valuable raw material for the production of ammonia, wax, paraffin, and alcohol.
Sphagnum moss is a popular thermal insulation and insulation material, which is widely used in construction. The hygroscopic properties of moss make it possible to neutralize changes in humidity.
In European cities with unfavorable environmental conditions, sphagnum moss fibers are used to monitor air purity. Sphagnum moss produces wood alcohol used for engines. internal combustion as an economical fuel. Sphagnum peat is used to flavor Scotch whiskey.
In peat formation
Perennial sphagnum mosses are capable of forming peat, having a high moisture capacity. The accumulation of sphagnum plants leads to the rapid formation of raised bogs. The body of sphagnum contains carbolic acid, which is a powerful antiseptic that can kill bacteria, which is why moss practically does not rot. The annual growth of sphagnum is 1-2 mm. Due to the growth of sphagnum moss, as well as other aquatic plants, forests become swamped, water bodies become overgrown, and lakes gradually turn into swamps. Sphagnum grows in the upper part, while the stems of the plant gradually die off each year, forming a significant layer of brown peat. Peat is used as a fuel material.
Classification
Sphagnum or peat moss (lat. Sphagnum) is a genus of mosses, spore-bearing perennial plants belonging to the family Sphagnaceae (lat. Sphagnaceae), order Sphagnum, class Sphagnum mosses. There are about 320 species in the sphagnum genus, the type species of which is considered to be bog sphagnum (lat. Sphagnum palustre L.). For medical purposes, mainly large-leaved types of sphagnum are used: magellanic sphagnum (lat. Sphagnum magellanicum Brid.), papillous sphagnum (lat. Sphagnum papillosum Lind) and marsh sphagnum (lat. Sphagnum palustre L).
Botanical description
Sphagnum is a genus of spore-bearing perennial plants that do not have rhizoids. The thin stems of moss are branched; the branches are of three types: horizontally located, drooping, adjacent to the stem and apical. Drooping shoots perform the function of absorbing and delivering water to the very top of the plant. Horizontal shoots perform an assimilation function and hold weak upper shoots. Sphagnum leaves are elongated-lanceolate, single-layered, membranous, sessile, arranged imbricately on the stem. The leaf blade consists of two types of cells: water-bearing hyaline cells (the so-called “dead”), which have hygroscopic properties, and chlorophyll-bearing cells, whose main function is photosynthesis.
Sphagnum reproduces by spores and vegetatively. In the life cycle of sphagnum moss, like all representatives of bryophytes, the gametophyte predominates. Sphagnum is a gametophyte on which antheridia and archegonia are formed; accordingly, sperm are formed in antheridia, and eggs are formed in archegonia. As a result of fertilization with the participation of water, a zygote is formed. The zygote divides, and a haustorium develops from its lower cell, capable of absorbing nutrients from gametophyte. From the upper cell of the zygote a box is formed - a sporogon, which consists of an urn where the sporangium with spores and a cap are located. After ripening, the spores are released. From a mature spore, a protonema is formed, and on it - buds, which give rise to the development of a new plant.
Common types of sphagnum: sphagnum magellanicum, central sphagnum (Sphagnum centrale), papillosum sphagnum Lind, marsh sphagnum (Sphagnum palustre).
Spreading
Sphagnum moss grows in vast colonies, forming thick dense clumps, continuous green carpets. The distribution area of sphagnum is quite wide: mosses occupy the forest and tundra zones of the Northern Hemisphere; mountainous areas in the Southern Hemisphere, and also common in the plains temperate zone. Mosses are widespread in South America. Peat mosses grow everywhere in the northern part of Russia and are a formative element of sphagnum bogs, actively absorbing and retaining moisture (the mass of accumulated water can be 20-25 times greater than the mass of moss). There are 42 species of sphagnum mosses growing on the territory of the Russian Federation, mainly in Eastern Siberia. The greatest diversity of moss species grows in the area South America. Large suppliers of sphagnum moss international market are Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Scandinavian countries.
Regions of distribution on the map of Russia.
Procurement of raw materials
You can collect sphagnum in different ways: remove the whole thing, along with the brown dead stems, or cut off only the top part of the green sphagnum “carpet”. In the first case, you will get more raw materials, but more careful processing is required. Mosses are collected in clearings, approximately 40-50 cm, so that the plant can fully recover. This collection site can recover several years after cutting. The top part of the moss is cut off with a sharp knife, then cleaned of impurities, needles, and leaves. Wet sphagnum moss is carefully squeezed out or excess water is ventilated. It is not recommended to dry raw materials in dryers; it is better to spread the moss in an even layer in a ventilated place in the shade, avoiding direct contact with sun rays. This way the raw material will dry evenly. Ready-made sphagnum moss high quality should not crumble and, when completely dry, acquires a characteristic white. The optimal humidity of dried raw materials is considered to be 25-30%. Dried moss can be stored in plastic or paper bags for no more than 1 year.
The so-called “live” moss is stored in the refrigerator or freezer. The collected sphagnum raw materials are not pre-dried, but after being cleaned of impurities and squeezed out, they are placed in the refrigerator, packed in a plastic bag.
Chemical composition
Sphagnum contains triterpene compounds (sitosterol, sitostanol), phenolic acids (fumaric, isochlorogenic, caffeic, pyrocatecholic, chlorogenic, fedulic), coumarins (esculetin, herniarin, scopoletin, esculin, umbelliferone), lignocerol, syringaldehyde, vanillin, paraoxybenzaldehyde, pigment s , phenol-like substance sphagnol, pectin substances, resins, sugars, coumarins, carbolic acid, cellulose, mineral salts, aldehydes.
Pharmacological properties
The bactericidal properties of sphagnum are due to the presence in the moss of a special phenol-like substance, sphagnol, which inhibits the growth and vital activity of pathological microflora: Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella.
Scientists from the Department of Analytical Chemistry of the Belarusian state university studied chemical composition sphagnum, as well as its absorption properties. Researchers isolated from the composition of moss a whole series active substances with bactericidal and antifungal properties, and also confirmed the high absorbency of the plant.
Sphagnum mosses have suction ability and good anti-putrefactive and antiseptic properties. The stems of the plant contain aquiferous hollow cells where water accumulates. The stem of sphagnum not only allows water to pass through well, but also blood and pus. The wound remains dry. Therefore, the plant is used as a dressing material for purulent wounds.
During the research, scientists from the Belarusian State University isolated 6 phenolic acids (fumaric, isochlorogenic, caffeic, pyrocatechol, chlorogenic, fedulic) and 6 coumarins (esculetin, scopoletin, esculin, coumarin, umbelliferone, herniarin) from sphagnum. These biologically active substances had a pronounced bactericidal effect on streptococcus and staphylococcus cultures. As a result of the studies, it was possible to establish that coumarins and organic acids of sphagnum moss have an antifungal effect. Sphagnum-based dressings are widely used for traumatic injuries. skin, purulent wounds, and also as a lining for the immobilization of fractures in extreme conditions.
The results of laboratory studies on rodents conducted by American scientists showed that the extract from brown sphagnum moss has a pronounced analgesic effect, which is practically not inferior to the similar effect of the drug indomethacin. In addition, the studied moss extract has a pronounced wound-healing effect.
In vitro, brown sphagnum extract exhibits a pronounced bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect. As a result, the combination of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, wound healing, antiseptic properties, and antibacterial effect of a water-ethanol extract from brown sphagnum moss makes it possible to develop medicines based on it for complex treatment inflammatory and wound processes, infected wounds, burns of the skin.
Use in folk medicine
In folk medicine in Russia and in folk medicine in many European countries, moss is used, as well as peat, peat water and peat mud to treat acute intestinal diseases and stomach ulcers.
Sphagnum decoctions are added to medicinal baths for increased sweating, fungal skin diseases, dermatitis, psoriasis and other skin diseases, and joint diseases. Peat water after squeezing out moss is effective as a lotion for staphylococcal wounds. Dried sphagnum moss in powder form is used for sprinkling on poorly healing wounds, purulent wounds, ulcers and burns. Alcohol tincture of sphagnum moss is used in the treatment of fungal nail diseases. Moss tincture is used as a painkiller for arthritis, myalgia, and radiculitis.
Sphagnum moss has also been used in gynecological practice. Chewing “live” sphagnum moss relieves excruciating pain during childbirth, and also stimulates the birth process itself. Moss is considered a good contraceptive for women who have vaginal allergies to chemicals and latex. A decoction of sphagnum moss is used to wash hair for hair loss.
Historical background
In ancient times, healers tied sphagnum bandages to abrasions and wounds; this procedure guaranteed rapid healing of the affected areas of the skin.
During the Great Patriotic War Sphagnum bog mosses were used in military hospitals in conditions of shortage of dressings. Such sphagnum-gauze dressings were widely used for healing purulent and other types of wounds. Before use, sphagnum was sterilized, steamed, or impregnated with a solution of boric acid, sublimate, or sodium chloride. Doctors highly valued the absorbency, looseness of moss and its antiseptic effect.
People have long noticed the insulating properties of dried moss. In the North, it was placed in babies' cradles, used to insulate walls in houses, and as absorbent bedding in stalls and barns.
Since sphagnum moss turns white when dried, the plant is popularly called “white moss.” Peat, swamp moss- folk name of a plant that reflects main feature of this plant - to retain a large amount of moisture and grow with the upper part, promoting the formation of peat.
Literature
1. Alexandrov B.V. in the world medicinal herbs. M., 1966.
2. Zalesova E.N., Petrovskaya O.V. A complete Russian illustrated herbal and flower dictionary, compiled according to the latest botanical and medical works. S.-Pb., 1898-1901. T. 1, 2, 3, 4.
3. Blinova K.F. and others. Botanical-pharmacognostic dictionary: Reference. allowance / Ed. K.F. Blinova, G.P. Yakovleva. - M.: Higher. school, 1990. - P. 244.
4. Plant life. Seaweed. Lichens. Mosses. - M.: World of Books, 2002. - T. 5. - P. 163. - 192 p. - ( Great encyclopedia nature).
5. Pharmaceutical aspects of the use of sphagnum moss / JI.G. Babeshina, S.E. Dmitruk, E.Ya. Muldiyarov.
