There is so much about our planet that is still undiscovered and unknown. The undying mysteries of the Earth are slowly unraveling, and we cannot contain our excitement. In the vast diversity of flora and fauna, we humans are a very small part. Although we consider ourselves to be the strongest species, today, we shall find out and discuss the most significant yet ignored form of life: moss. We have all seen moss grow in and around where we live. Mosses are the most commonly found plants. However, there is more to the moss than we can even fathom. So without wasting much time, let’s talk about the brilliant documentary The Magical World of Moss by director Bruno Victor-Pujebet.
Spoilers Ahead
Moss, The Brilliant Indigenous Species
Since the beginning of time, mosses have been the source of life on Earth. They have helped life thrive on Earth. People in Japan revere mosses. They regard them as high as Westerners think of heavenly constellations. Japanese people believe that nature is almighty and needs to be preserved. They worship wind, rivers, animals, and moss. They let moss cover the sacred sites. They endlessly look after them and take care of every detail of the moss. They remove everything that might harm the moss, and they look after mosses like they are the most precious thing on the planet. The uniformity of the color of the moss makes it so appealing and interesting. The garden of Kokedera, or the Moss Temple, is the finest example of how Japanese people treat moss. The temple has more than 100 species of moss. They also gave simple yet beautiful names to the mosses, like Spiral Moss, Whip Moss, Shining Branch, White Hair, and Grandfather’s Beard. Cypress moss, also known as weasel tail, is a common form of moss. Mold moss prefers humid areas, and inside the garden, there are several humid areas that house the mold mosses. Mosses can also be categorized based on their smell. These tiny and often ignorant species are classified as bryophytes in the plant kingdom. They are non-flowing plants that are considered cousins of hornworts and liverworts.
Adaptation Capacity Of Moss
One of the most horrifying volcanic eruptions happened in 1978. Mosses have found a way to make the place habitable. The gray, velvety moss covers the surface area. They are called Racomitrium, and they grow in lava fields. They can survive in extremely high temperatures and dry climates. They have hair-like structures that accumulate moisture from the atmosphere. Also, crates and lava are poor sources of nutrients, but mosses can. Moss has spores, stems, and leaves like any other plant but does not have roots. This unique characteristic helps them grow on rocks. Mosses travel from one place to another rather easily; as they do not have roots, they are more flexible than other plants. Thus, they get washed away by fast-flowing water, wind, and sometimes glaciers. Once they are on the move, they begin accumulating, and when they finally settle down at a place, they turn the place beautifully green. From the lava-affected land to the arctic circle to the soils affected by radiation, moss can thrive in any inhospitable landscape. Furthermore, they are home to several creatures in nature that maintain the healthy ecological balance of the Earth. Also, they provide the best topsoil for the plants to grow on. Mosses do indeed have a life force of their own.
Wonders Of Moss
We already know that mosses can survive the hardest weather and landscape scenarios. Simultaneously, mosses regenerate themselves and heal very easily. Although this tiny living being needs to be cared for and nurtured too; however, scientists have found that the healing capacity of moss is faster than any other substance, which is why it can be treated to build natural fertilizers and can be used to save the world from several artificial waste hazards. If the theory is well executed, mosses will be used for medicinal purposes shortly. Also, NASA, in collaboration with the Space Moss Program of Copenhagen University, is planning to see if moss can survive in Martian weather. If it does, they will send samples of moss to Mars, and they are hoping that Mars might turn into a “green planet” from a “red planet” if mosses could survive there. Although they would need a significant amount of research, the researchers are doing their best to utilize the mosses to their full capacity.
Mosses have been helping plants thrive, and small organisms survive on their surfaces. Mosses grow on large trees and protect them by keeping them humid and providing them with water. Although mosses are common, so far, we are unaware of their potential. Slowly, researchers and scientists are trying to figure out the secrets mosses have in store. We are sure that once all their secrets are unraveled, mosses will be the most important living species on the planet (and also on Mars if everything goes well).