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Sphagnum
Sphagnum (subclass Sphagnidae, class Musci) A genus of mosses which differ in several respects from other mosses; they are sometimes classified in a separate class (Sphagnopsida). The plants are characteristically branched with branches in fascicles of 2–8. The leaves are nerveless and are composed of 2 main types of cell: narrow, green, living cells and inflated, colourless, dead cells. The latter cells readily become filled with water, allowing the plant to hold many times its own weight of water. The capsules of Sphagnum are also unique; they are roughly spherical with no peristome. When the capsule is ripe, the wall shrinks on drying and the pressure inside builds up until the lid is blown off and the spores are ejected. There are many species, often difficult to distinguish, found, often abundantly, in various wet, acidic habitats: bogs, marshes, pools, moors, wet woodland, damp grassland, etc. The genus is distributed world-wide.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Sphagnum." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Sphagnum." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-Sphagnum.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Sphagnum." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-Sphagnum.html |
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Sphagnum
Sphagnum A genus of mosses, distributed worldwide, that are found, often abundantly, in wet, acidic habitats (bogs, marshes, pools, moors, wet woodland, damp grassland, etc.) There are many species, which are often difficult to distinguish. The plants are characteristically branched, with branches in fascicles of 2–8. The leaves are nerveless and composed of two main types of cell: narrow, green, living cells and inflated, colourless, dead cells. The dead cells readily fill with water, allowing the plant to hold many times its own weight of water. The capsules are roughly spherical; when ripe, the capsule wall shrinks when it dries, increasing the internal pressure until the lid is blown off, ejecting the spores.
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "Sphagnum." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Sphagnum." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-Sphagnum.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Sphagnum." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-Sphagnum.html |
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sphagnum
sphagnum or peat moss, any species of the large and widely distributed genus Sphagnum, economically the most valuable moss . Sphagnums, the principal constituent of peat , typically grow as a floating mat on freshwater bogs . Their leaflike appendages have many large cells with circular openings that enable them to absorb liquids readily; hence they are commercially important as a soil structure enhancer (or component of potting soils), packing material, and absorbent dressings and for other uses. Sphagnum is classified in the division Bryophyta , class Bryopsida. |
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"sphagnum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sphagnum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-sphagnum.html "sphagnum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-sphagnum.html |
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sphagnum
sphagnum (bot.) genus of mosses. XVIII. f. Gr. sphágnos
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T. F. HOAD. "sphagnum." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "sphagnum." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-sphagnum.html T. F. HOAD. "sphagnum." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-sphagnum.html |
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