Mosses are small plants that typically form dense green clumps or mats, often in damp or shady locations.
It is not a good sign when you see moss and lichen growing on your roof or walls. When you see green, it is always a signal for you to clean it up. Isn’t it?
Although moss can lead to costly repairs, it is one of the most interesting and versatile plants in nature. We necessarily do not appreciate moss growing on our house. But we can still marvel at its unique properties.
DID YOU KNOW? Mosses such as Peat Moss and Sphagnum Moss was used as children diapers by Indigenous North Americans, Britons and Germans. They were also used to staunch wounds all the way up to World War 1.
Keep reading to find our some interesting facts about Moss you probably did not know.
What allows most moss to grow on our rooftops and tree branches is the fact that the plant doesn’t have a root system. Yes! You heard it right. Moss is a plant without roots.
Moss is also used for heat- When peat moss dries, it turns into thick bricks, which can be burned like coal. It wasnt uncommon for boots and shoes to be lined with moss in the cold winter months, as these minutes plants also have insulating properties.
Most animals don’t eat moss as its hard to digest and has little nutritional value. So why are reindeer different? The moss contains a special chemical that helps reindeer keep their blood warm. That is the reason that reindeer is tempted to have moss as a meal.
Because this plant is highly absorbent, it protects the earth underneath from soil erosion, which as we know is a negative side effect of rapid climate change. The presence of too much nitrogen pollution, for instance can cause different mosses to change their shape or disappear. The healthier the moss, the healthies the air.
Did you know that as a descendent of algae, moss was the first plant to survive on land?
