Sphagnum moss
Common name: Sphagnum moss
Scientific name: Sphagnum spp. Family: Sphagnaceae New Jersey has about 50 species of Sphagnum moss, half of which can be found in wetlands throughout the pine barrens. Sphagnum moss accumulates in swamps, bogs, and fens as peat which serves as a carbon sink. Some sphagnum species can hold 20x their dry weight in water. Each species has a very specific pH tolerance and microhabitat, whether that is high and dry on the top of a moss hummock or floating in open water. In the 1970s, there were concerns that leaded gasoline was leading to a decline in sphagnum moss populations. Sphagnum is sensitive to both pollution and pH. The Clean Air Act helped sphagnum rebound by banning leaded gasoline for cars in 1996. Sphagnum filters water, stores carbon, and gives wetland plants a place to grow. They are non-vascular plants, meaning they don't have vascular systems. Sphagnum reproduces with spores. In Autumn and Winter, some species produce red and orange pigments in response to the amount of sunlight. |
iNaturalist observation:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/112173013
Lat: 39.492904
Lon: -74.526545
Accuracy: 8m
Geoprivacy: Open
www.inaturalist.org/observations/112173013
Lat: 39.492904
Lon: -74.526545
Accuracy: 8m
Geoprivacy: Open