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Sphagnum fuscum
Also called Rusty Bog Moss, Brown Peatmoss, Brown Peat Moss
Sphagnum fuscum, the rusty bogmoss or rusty peat moss, is a peat moss found commonly in Norway and Sweden, and can be found scattered across North America, the United Kingdom, and in southern to eastern Europe.
Known occurrence of Sphagnum fuscus are on the map above. The moss inhabits boreal forests and marshlands primarily, and is more likely to be found in colder climates. The moss is also capable of inhabiting areas of relatively high elevation.
In recent studies performed in Eastern Europe, it was found that stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios in α-cellulose of Sphagnum fuscum stems subsampled from hummocks and peat plateau profiles are useful indicators for summer temperature and winter precipitation at decadal to millennial timescales. In another study conducted in Alberta, Canada, it was found that S. fuscum serves as an indicator of high depositions of sulphur and nitrogen in substrates. S. fuscum grows in areas with high sulphur and nitrogen depositions, which is concomitant with the decreased pH of the soil. Sphagnum has also been used historically for medicinal purposes. The moss itself has antimicrobial properties, and was therefore used as an effective filler for wounds to prevent infection. It also retains large amounts of moisture, which was quite useful in keeping the skin around a wound moist to prevent tissue death.
Sphagnum · Sphagnum · Aongstroem's sphagnum · Austin's sphagnum · Plants · Sphagnum · Sphagnum · Low sphagnum · Contorted sphagnum · Toothed sphagnum · Sphagnum · Sphagnum falcatulum
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Sphagnum fuscum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
