- Mosses are unlike most plants and don't have roots or stems, nor does moss bear flowers or produce fruit. Moss also lacks a vascular system, unlike trees and flowers, which have veins that circulate nourishment and water. A member of the Bryophyta phylum, the leaves of moss plants are rarely more than a single thick. Male and female moss plants are indistinguishable until the development of reproductive parts. Mosses reproduce via spore or by sending out new shoots.
- Like all living things, moss requires nutrients and water to survive and can obtain nourishment in several ways. Some moss varieties have highly absorbent surfaces and are able to consume nutrients in water which washes over them. Other kinds of moss are able to take in food from the soil they grow in, moving it to their growing ends. Some mosses have small perforations in their cells that help them transport and preserve nutrients.
- As moss does not need to put roots in the ground to obtain food, it can grow on rocks, rooftops, trees, sand dunes and even in the bottom of lakes and occasionally, on the surface of the ocean. Moss can also withstand a variety of temperatures, and is seen growing above the Arctic Circle.
- Moss can quickly invade and overtake a lawn, creating an unsightly problem. According to University of Illinois Extension, moss in a lawn is usually indicative of poor drainage, too much shade, low or high pH or improper aeration. If the pH is too low, adding lime can help fight moss and pruning trees will provide more sunlight and air circulation. Fertilize the lawn with nitrogen to keep it strong enough to fight moss and keep grass 2 to 3 inches high, as over-cutting also encourages moss growth.
Moss Basics
Feeding
Moss Habitats
Moss and Lawns
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