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1
: any of an order (Sphagnales, containing a single genus Sphagnum) of atypical mosses that grow only in wet acid areas where their remains become compacted with other plant debris to form peat
2
: a mass of sphagnum plants
Examples of sphagnum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Made with a blend of sphagnum peat moss, humus, and perlite, this potting mix helps ensure good drainage to keep roots healthy.
—Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2024
Amend soil as necessary with materials like compost, manure, wood clippings, and sphagnum peat moss.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024
It's made up of sphagnum peat moss, along with vermiculite and perlite.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 17 Feb. 2024
The first plants to colonize land hundreds of millions of years ago, they’ve been used by humans for millenniums for everything from insulation and bedding to battlefield bandages (sphagnum moss has antiseptic properties).
—Jenny Comita, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2023
Cut your own plants right below the node, package them up in a moisture-retaining material like some sphagnum moss or a wet paper towel, wrap them up in cling wrap, add a little bow, and voila—a bouquet of cuttings ready to propagate into more leafy little ones.
—Helen Bradshaw, Popular Science, 9 Nov. 2023
Sometimes plants are sold in pure sphagnum moss, which must be monitored carefully to avoid overwatering.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 16 June 2023
Wrap an inch of sphagnum moss around the spot where the leaf and the stem meet.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 31 May 2023
Put moist sphagnum moss over the ringed area, cover it with clear plastic wrap, and secure it with twine or floral ties.
—Lynn Coulter, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sphagnum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Latin sphagnos, a moss, from Greek
First Known Use
1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near sphagnum
Cite this Entry
“Sphagnum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sphagnum. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.
Kids Definition
sphagnum
noun
sphag·num
ˈsfag-nəm
1
: any of a large genus of mosses that usually grow in wet areas (as bogs) and become compacted with other plant matter to form peat
2
: a mass of sphagnum plants
Medical Definition
sphagnum
noun
sphag·num
ˈsfag-nəm
variants
or sphagnum moss
1
: any of a genus (Sphagnum of the order Sphagnales) of mosses that grow in wet acidic areas where their remains become compacted with other plant debris to form peat
2
: a mass of dehydrated sphagnum plants used as a surgical dressing especially during World War I
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