Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophytasensu stricto. Bryophyta may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and hornworts. Mosses typically form dense green clumps or mats, often in damp or shady locations. The individual plants are usually composed of simple leaves that are generally only one cell thick, attached to a stem that may be branched or unbranched and has only a limited role in conducting water and nutrients. Although some species have conducting tissues, these are generally poorly developed and structurally different from similar tissue found in vascular plants. Mosses do not have seeds and after fertilisation develop sporophytes with unbranched stalks topped with single capsules containing spores. They are typically 0.2–10 cm (0.1–3.9 in) tall, though some species are much larger. Dawsonia, the tallest moss in the world, can grow to 50 cm (20 in) in height. There are approximately 12,000 species.
Sphagnum is a genus of approximately 380 accepted species of mosses, commonly known as sphagnum moss, also bog moss and quacker moss. Accumulations of Sphagnum can store water, since both living and dead plants can hold large quantities of water inside their cells; plants may hold 16 to 26 times as much water as their dry weight, depending on the species. The empty cells help retain water in drier conditions.
Moss Lake Bog is an 84-acre (34 ha) site containing a 15-acre (6.1 ha) glacial kettle lake located in the town of Caneadea, New York, outside Houghton. Over time, sphagnum moss has grown over the open water, turning it into an acidic bog. It is managed by The Nature Conservancy as part of Moss Lake Preserve, and was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1973.
Sphagnum cuspidatum, the feathery bogmoss, toothed sphagnum, or toothed peat moss, is a peat moss found commonly in Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, the eastern coast of the United States, and in Colombia.
Sole Common Pond is a 3-hectare (7.4-acre) nature reserve south-west of Boxford in Berkshire in Berkshire. It is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.
Sphagnum papillosum, the papillose peatmoss, is a species of peat moss distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. Although sometimes confused with Sphagnum imbricatum and Sphagnum palustre, it is distinguished by its yellow-green to brown short, blunt branches and papillose chlorophyllose cells.
Campylium stellatum is a species of moss belonging to the family Amblystegiaceae.
Amblystegium tenax is a species of moss belonging to the family Amblystegiaceae.
Microbryum davallianum is a species of moss belonging to the family Pottiaceae.
Sphagnum compactum, the compact bogmoss, is a species of moss belonging to the family Sphagnaceae.
Sphagnum inundatum is a species of moss belonging to the family Sphagnaceae.
Sphagnum platyphyllum, the flat-leaved bogmoss, is a species of moss belonging to the family Sphagnaceae.
Sphagnum pulchrum is a species of moss belonging to the family Sphagnaceae.
Sphagnum quinquefarium is a species of moss belonging to the family Sphagnaceae.
Sphagnum subnitens is a species of moss belonging to the family Sphagnaceae.
Campylium polygamum is a species of moss belonging to the family Amblystegiaceae.
Sphagnum recurvum is a species of moss belonging to the family Sphagnaceae.
Sphagnum contortum is a species of moss reported in North America and Europe. NatureServe marked its global conservation status as Secure.
