By gary fast
All rights reserved
Uploaded Apr 18, 2019. Captured Apr 17, 2019 14:07 in 315 Whaletown Rd, Whaletown, BC V0P 1Z0, Canada.
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comments (8)
PS: fixed a typo in the genus name, it's Bryum, not Byrum. Posted 5 years ago
Inconspicuous, yet incredibly beautiful! Mosses (Phylum Bryophyta) are found all over the world and in varied habitats. After flowering plants, mosses are the most diverse group of plants with around 12,000 species. They are non-vascular plants that usually only grow between 1-10 cm tall, and often in dense, carpet-like mats. Their height is limited because, without any specialized cells to transport water and nutrients, they have to rely on capillary action and osmosis to move substances throughout the plant body. They require direct contact with water to stay hydrated. Even fertilization depends on water—the transfer of sperm to egg often occurs in raindrops. Mosses don't have any vascular tissue to provide structural support, nor do they have large leaves, flowers, or cones. They stay anchored to the substrate via rhizoids, have natural antifreeze, can stay green throughout the winter, are fantastic insulators, and have compounds that make them unpalatable to pests. Some even have antibiotic properties, making them useful as a dressing for wounds. Aside from these interesting features, mosses are also incredibly useful. They reduce erosion, insulate arctic permafrost, and aid in nutrient cycling. {Bryum capillare spotted in British Columbia, Canada by JungleDragon user, Gary Fast} #JungleDragon Posted 5 years ago