Sphagnum

Sphagnum, commonly known as peat moss, is a genus of moss species found in wetlands, bogs and other consistently waterlogged habitats mainly across cool temperate and boreal regions of the world, capable of holding many times its own dry weight in water within specialized, sponge-like leaf cells. As sphagnum grows and dies, its slow decomposition in oxygen-poor, waterlogged conditions builds up thick layers of partially decayed organic material known as peat, and over centuries this process can form extensive peat bogs that store enormous amounts of carbon, making sphagnum-dominated wetlands globally significant for carbon storage and climate regulation. The moss also acidifies and alters the chemistry of the water around it, creating a distinctive, nutrient-poor bog habitat suited to specialized plants and animals found in few other environments. Sphagnum has long been harvested for horticultural use and, historically, as a wound dressing due to its natural absorbency and mild antiseptic properties.