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Moss
Chenhao Li
What is the moss?
• Mosses are small, soft plants that are
typically 1–10 cm (0.4–4 in) tall, though
some species are much larger.They
commonly grow close together in clumps
or mats in damp or shady locations.They
do not have flowers or seeds , and their
simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems.
Classification
• Traditionally, mosses were grouped with the
liverworts and hornworts in the Division Bryophyta (
bryophytes ), within which the mosses made up the
class Musci.This definition of Bryophyta, however, is
paraphyletic and now tends to be split up into three
divisions.In such a system, the Division Bryophyta
contains exclusively mosses.In such a system, the
Division Bryophyta contains exclusively mosses.
Geological history
• The fossil record of moss is sparse, due to
their soft-walled and fragile
nature.Unambiguous moss fossils have been
recovered from as early as the Permian of
Antarctica and Russia, and a case is put
forwards for Carboniferous mosses. It has
further been claimed that tube-like fossils
from the Silurian are the macerated remains
of moss calyptræ .
Habitat
• Since mosses have no vascular system to carry water
through the plant, they must have a damp
environment in which to live, and a surrounding of
liquid water to reproduce.In most areas, mosses
grow chiefly in areas of dampness and shade, such as
wooded areas and at the edges of streams; but they
can grow anywhere in cool damp cloudy climates,
and some species are adapted to sunny, seasonally
dry areas like alpine rocks or stabilized sand dunes.
Traditional uses
1. Circumpolar
and alpine people used mosses
as insulation in boots and mittens. Ötzi the
Iceman had moss-packed boots.
2.Tribes of northeastern United States and
southeastern Canada used moss to fill chinks
in wooden longhouses.
Commercial use
• There is a substantial market in mosses
gathered from the wild.The uses for intact
moss are principally in the florist trade and for
home decoration.Decaying moss in the genus
Sphagnum is also the major component of
peat , which is "mined" for use as a fuel , as a
horticultural soil additive, and in smoking malt
in the production of Scotch whisky .
Inhibiting moss growth
• Decreasing availability of water through
drainage .
• Increasing direct sunlight.
• Increasing the soil pH with the application of
lime .
• Increasing number and resources available for
competitive plants like grasses .
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