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Sphagnum moss carpet

 

We all know the Sphagnum or peat moss, but to be precise it must be said that as many as 37 different species grow in Estonia although their identification needs an expert and a microscope. So we will rather talk about the genus Sphagnum, or peat, mosses. In Estonian bogs the Sphagnum mosses are the clearly prevalent species.

 

Almost all our mosses are perennials, growing from the tip of the stem and ”dying off” at the bottom. In our climate mosses have two growing seasons: when there is more humidity and, on a deciduous forest floor, light -  thus spring and autumn, but ”autumn” still lasts this year.

 

Some particularly frequently occurring as well as colourful Sphagnum mosses: