White Sphagnum

Sphagnum

White sphagnum is a soft, greenish-white peat moss that grows in bogs and some other wet environments. The Dena'ina have a number of important uses for white sphagnum. In earlier days especially, it functioned as toilet paper, baby diapers, and menstrual pads. Before being used for these purposes, it is cleaned of any rough material. When used as a baby diapers, it is placed in the bottom of a baby bag made of skin or in a birchbark cradle. Not only is the moss easily disposed of, but it is also said not to cause baby rash. An Inland person also noted that it is dried and used as a paintbrush.

White sphagnum may also be used for any injury in the same manner as red sphagnum moss. White sphagnum is also sometimes used as a camp mattress and as insulation in buildings, as are some of the green terrestrial mosses. In the inland area, white sphagnum was reportedly boiled and mixed with lard and used for dog food during times of food shortage.