Plants of the The Taiga Plains

Balsam Poplar | Black Spruce | Cloudberry | Horsetail | Red Osier Dogwood

Scrub Birch | Siberian Yarrow | Sphagnum Moss | Tamarck

Trembling Aspen | White Spruce

Sphagnum girgensohnii

Appearance

This moss variety is a vibrant green or slightly yellowish colour with upright stems that are star shaped and flat topped and form a carpet of branches that cluster in bunches of 4 to 5.

Range & Habitat

This type of sphagnum moss can be found throughout BC but it is most common in the northern areas in lower elevations and also in areas of bogs and swamps with shaded forest area. It is also found all around the world where there is shrubby tundra habitat.

Life Cycle

The Sphagnum Moss does not reproduce with seeds but with spores instead.

Animal Uses

This moss provides a great place for nesting and bedding for birds.

Traditional First Nations Uses

The Sphagnum Moss was widely used to treat wounds for infection and for baby care and personal hygiene. It was also mixed with pitch to fill the wood in canoes and it was used alone to line fir pits, fill pillows and mattresses and as moisture for cooking.

Modern Uses

Through a process of distilling tar from the moss the tar was used in ointments to treat eczema, acne and psoriases all common skin diseases of the Modern world.

Status

COSEWIC: Not at Risk
CDC: Yellow