Sphagnales
/sfæɡˈneɪliːz/noun
A botanical order of mosses containing the peat moss genus Sphagnum.
Did you know?Sphagnum peat moss can acidify and oxygen-starve its surroundings, creating bog conditions that have preserved exceptionally ancient human remains.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
σφάγνος (sphagnos)
“A term associated with moss; the precise ancient plant identification is uncertain.”
18th Century
New Latin
Sphagnum
“The scientific genus name for peat moss.”
19th Century
New Latin
Sphagnaceae
“The botanical family containing Sphagnum.”
19th Century
New Latin
Sphagnales
“A formal taxonomic order name built from Sphagnum with the botanical ending -ales.”
Modern English
English
Sphagnales
“The order of peat mosses, used chiefly in botanical and biological writing.”
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