Join us for an introduction to moss morphology and identification with Ryan Clark.
Mosses are small, non-vascular plants that absorb water and nutrients directly through their leaves and typically grow in dense, low patches in damp or shaded environments. Unlike most plants, they do not have true roots or stems, and they reproduce using spores rather than seeds. Their life cycle includes a dominant green gametophyte stage and a spore-producing sporophyte stage, often seen as a capsule on a stalk. They also employ a diverse range of strategies for vegetative reproduction. Mosses play important ecological roles by helping to retain moisture, prevent soil erosion, and support biodiversity, particularly in woodlands, wetlands, and peat bogs. There are over 760 species of moss in the British Isles.