Hi Betty!

Finding a species of Sphagnum moss in Arkansas is not hard to believe. These plants are often thought of as bog plants, but in fact they can be found in just about any place that stays continuously wet. They have been found in all types of bogs of course, but also in fens, forested swamps, marshes, on the margins of lakes, ponds, and streams, in moorlands, on mountain top swamps, on wet sands, or even growing aquatically. IÂm sure that somewhere there even exists an epiphytic species! YouÂd be surprised just how many places these mosses grow. The underlying issue is a constant water supply that is basically mineral free.

Being of very old origins, they are found literally all around the world. The largest concentrations are in the northern hemisphere bog lands, but they can be found just about anywhere. Here is a nice little overview of the Sphagnum family:

Sphagnum Family

In case you were wondering how diverse these plants are, consider the Sphagnum species found in the state of New Jersey:

New Jersey Sphagnum List

ThatÂs a lot of diversity!

So the answer to your question is, yes, it is very likely you have found Sphagnum growing naturally in your area.

PF