PEAT

Any mass of semi-carbonized vegetable tissue formed by partial decomposition in water of various plants, especially mosses of the genus Sphagnum. Peat varies in consistency from turf to slime. As it decomposes its color deepens, old peat being dark brown or black, and keeping little of the plant texture. According to its formation, it is known as Bog Peat (mosses), Heath Peat or Meadow Peat (grasses and sedges), Forest Peat or Wood Peat (trees), and Sea Peat (seaweeds). Also see Peatland.