Moss - green, white, sphagnum, cuckoo flax, lichen, rhizoid, conditions, reproduction. Mosses - ancient and important

Second only to angiosperms, or flowering plants, which indicates the important ecological role that these plants play in nature.

Bryophytes do not have roots, they have poorly developed integumentary and conductive tissues, and for reproduction they need drip liquid moisture. Therefore, they live mainly in places with high humidity - in swamps, under the forest canopy, on the shaded side of tree trunks, etc.

During rain and snowmelt mosses, like a sponge, they absorb moisture and then slowly release it to the rivers. Therefore, the drainage of raised bogs and deforestation, in which mosses live, leads to floods in the spring, during the melting of snow. At the same time, turbulent streams of water wash away the top fertile soil layer (this phenomenon is called water erosion of the soil). At the same time, in summer, the rivers fed by the water of raised bogs become shallow, and drought sets in.

Due to their unique ability to absorb moisture throughout the surface of the body, some species of bryophytes have adapted to life in conditions where root functions are ineffective - in very cold or very dry and stony soil. Bryophytes dominate not only in swamps, but also in the polar zone, preventing the catastrophic thawing of permafrost, as well as on rocky mountain slopes. Bryophytes are the dominant plants of tropical mountain forests located at an altitude of more than 3000 m above sea level (the so-called mossy forests).

Some bryophytes have adapted to life on dry, sun-exposed mountain slopes, on hot rocks, and even in the desert. Such mosses can remain viable for years when dried, quickly becoming active when moistened (unlike most mosses, which die when dried for a day).

Classification and diversity of bryophytes

All are divided into 3 classes:

• Anthocerotes(Anthocerotopsida);
• liverworts(Hepaticopsida);
• Leafy or true mosses(Bryopsida, or Musci).

Leafy, or true mosses, can, in turn, be divided into 3 subclasses:

• brieves(or green) mosses (Bryidae);

• Sphagnum(or white) mosses (Sphagnidae);
• Andreevs(or black) mosses (Andreaeidae).

Class Anthocerota

Class Anthocerota(Anthocerotopsida) has over 300 species distributed mainly in the tropics and subtropics. Haploid ( n) the gametophyte of anthocerotes is a thallus, outwardly resembling a rosette or saucer of dark green color, in the center of which a bright green "candle" of diploid ( 2n) sporophyte (Fig. 1).

At the end of maturation, the “candle” spore cracks and the spores spill out onto the ground. It is interesting that sporophyte cells (“candles”) contain the usual small oval-shaped chloroplasts, similar to chloroplasts of vascular plants, and gametophyte cells (“rosettes”) contain large chloroplasts, inside which are pyrenoids, which further enhances the similarity of “rosettes” - gametophytes. with algae.

Rice. 1. Anthocerota: a) Anthoceros (Anthoceros laevis) - general form with mature sporangia; b) sporangium with spores; c) archegonium; d) antheridium (internally developing spermatozoa); 1 - abdomen archegonium (in the center of the egg); 2 - neck (inside cervical tubular cells)

The stomata in the epidermis of the Anthocerota sporophyte consist of two guard cells and are outwardly similar to the stomata of vascular plants. The sporophyte of Anthoceridae, unlike the sporophytes of other bryophytes, long time retains the ability to grow and photosynthesis; it has been shown that it can generally grow and feed on its own, without the help of a gametophyte. These features of Anthocerotes allow some scientists to see them as reduced vascular plants or even the lowest link in their evolution (i.e., to consider Anthocerotes as possible ancestors of the first vascular plants - rhinophytes).

Anthocerotes are very different from other bryophytes and, in general, from other terrestrial plants. Liverworts and leafy mosses differ much less from each other. It is possible that the origin of Anthocerotes and other bryophytes is different, and they should generally be considered as different divisions of the realm of the races of genius.

Cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc ( Nostoc) that fix atmospheric nitrogen and supply nitrogen compounds to the host plant. However, slow-growing atocerota are weak competitors, so most species of this class are inhabitants of disturbed habitats (unsodden edges of arable lands, ditches, roads, river banks).

Class liverworts

Class liverworts(Hepaticopsida), or liver mosses, unites about 10,000 species.

The liverworts were named so due to the fact that their thallus resembles the liver with its outlines, therefore, in the Middle Ages, these mosses were considered an effective remedy for the treatment of its diseases.

Many liverworts are thallus (thallus) organisms. A typical representative thallus liverworts is diverse.

However, most liverworts are not thallus, but leafy. The leaves of the liverworts, unlike the leaves of leafy mosses, are arranged not in spirals, but in 3-4 rows.

Rhizoids are unicellular. The protonema in most liverworts is poorly developed and short-lived.

Liverworts live on moist soil, on rocks, along river banks.

Vegetative reproduction is very well developed in liverworts.

Class leafy, or real mosses

Class deciduous, or real mosses (Bryopsida, or Musci) - this is the largest class of mosses, numbering about 25,000 species.

The deciduous class includes three subclasses:

• shaving;
• sphagnum;
• andrew mosses.

Brie mosses

Brie subclass(Bryidae), or green mosses, includes 14,000 species. In damp places, representatives of this group are ubiquitous: they settle on the soil, bark, tree trunks. Green mosses live in spruce and pine forests, swamps, mountain slopes, and often form a continuous cover in the tundra.

A typical representative of green mosses -, or polytrichum (Polytrichum commune) - Brie mosses of the polytrichous and dausonian families are the only representatives of bryophytes whose gametophytes have relatively well-developed conductive tissues resembling the xylem and phloem of primitive vascular plants. The leaves on the gametophytes of all briids are located but in a spiral. The upper side of the leaf is covered with columns of photosynthetic cells called assimilation plates. The integumentary tissue (epidermis), which protects the plant from drying out, is located only on the underside of the leaf. The stem and leaves of polytrichous also contain mechanical tissues, which are elongated cells resembling the sclereids of vascular plants. Mosses from the polytrich family are perennial, relatively large plants (for example, the height of the cuckoo flax stems sometimes reaches 40-50 cm), often forming extensive covers on the soil in forests, swamps and tundra.

Green moss rhizoids, unlike liverwort rhizoids, are multicellular, but absorb water relatively poorly. Therefore, green mosses, like other classes of mosses, absorb water with the entire surface of the body, primarily with leaves. So, cuckoo flax can absorb water 4-5 times more than the dry weight of its own body. In this regard, mosses often swamp the soil on which they grow.

characteristic feature life cycle of green mosses is that their development begins with the formation of a special filamentous structure - protonemes, outwardly resembling a filamentous green algae. Interestingly, in some leafy mosses, the gametophyte does not develop at all. Home life form such mosses become protonema. The most famous of them is luminous moss. schistostega pinnate(Shistostega pennata), found in caves throughout southern Europe. It is with him that the appearance of legends about the treasures of the dwarves, disappearing at dawn, is connected.

Schistostega glows due to the concentration and subsequent reflection of light, as the eyes of cats “glow”. Special lenticular cells of moss first concentrate light on chloroplasts, and then concentrated light, reflected from rear wall cells, passes through the chloroplasts a second time. This feature of the structure allows the Schistostega to live in the weak, diffused light of the caves.

In green mosses, as well as in liverworts, vegetative propagation is well developed.

sphagnum mosses

Subclass sphagnum(Sphegnidae), or white mosses, is represented single genus sphagnum(Sphagnum), including over 300 species. A characteristic feature of sphagnum is a branching stem: not individual leaves, but whorls of branches (sometimes 5 at a node) depart from the main stem of sphagnum, and a head of closely spaced branches forms at the top of the shoot.

The initial phase of sphagnum development is the formation of lamellar protonema from spores.

Sphagnum leaves contain special dead cells that serve as water containers. Big dead aquifers are surrounded by small photosynthetic cells (Fig. 2). When the sphagnum dries, the water from the aquifers evaporates and the sphagnum becomes whitish - hence the second name of sphagnum mosses - "white mosses". Due to the presence of aquifers certain types sphagnum absorb moisture 20-40 times their dry weight. Due to this unique ability, sphagnum waterlogs the soil on which it grows.

Sphagnum does not have rhizoids. As the plant grows, the lower parts of the stem die off and sink to the bottom. In the process of growth, sphagnum not only swamps the soil, but also acidifies the water to a pH below 4. In an acidic environment without oxygen, dead stems of sphagnum and other plants do not rot, but turn into peat.

Peat bogs - interesting object for archaeologists and paleobotanists. In the acidic environment of peat bogs, spores of ancient plants, tree trunks, ancient tools, boats, building structures are perfectly preserved. So, recently in the UK, a wooden road was discovered in peat deposits, connecting two settlements of people of the Stone Age. The age of this building is 6000 years.

Rice. 2. Sphagnum moss: a) general view; 6) box; c) leaf cells under a microscope

Peat is an excellent and renewable fuel. Peat is mainly used in thermal power plants to generate electricity. AT agriculture peat is used as a fertilizer, as well as to retain moisture in the soil. In greenhouses, peat-humus pots are used for growing seedlings.

In medicine, sphagnum is used as an excellent dressing material and filler for various moisture-absorbing pads. Sphagnum, in comparison with conventional dressings, such as vaga, absorbs moisture 5-6 times more efficiently. In addition, unlike cotton wool, sphagnum has pronounced bactericidal properties.

An interesting feature of sphagnum is the spore dispersal mechanism.

The sporophyte of sphagnum is a round box, rising on a stand (pseudopod) from the tissues of the gametophyte. In humid weather, air enters the box through the stomata. When the box dries up, the stomata on its surface close, the air pressure inside rises, as a result, with a distinct pop, the lid breaks off and a cloud of spores rises above the box.

Peat bogs occupy about 1% of the Earth's area and play important role in the regulation of the Earth's water balance. The supply of water from raised bogs feeds the rivers.

Andrew mosses

Subclass andreiaceae(Andreaeidae), or black mosses, unites about 120 species of black-green or red-brown rock mosses, characteristic of mountainous and arctic regions. Protonema - lamellar, thick-walled, multi-lobed.

The mechanism of spore dispersal is interesting. The box on the pseudopod from the tissues of the gametophyte cracks into 4 plates. In dry weather, due to the reduction of the central axis, it shrinks like a Christmas toy, and the spores pour out of the box through the opened cracks. In wet weather, the axis of the box lengthens and the slots close.

Bryophyte department- these are higher spore plants, the species diversity of which reaches 20 thousand. The study of mosses has been going on for many centuries, the scientists involved in their research were called bryologists, they founded a separate botanical branch dedicated to bryophytes - bryology. Briology - the science of mosses, studies the structure, reproduction and development of bryophytes (actually mosses, liverworts, anthocerotes).

General characteristics of mosses

Moss - general characteristics

Bryophytes are one of the oldest plants that inhabit our planet. The remains are found in fossils from the end of the Paleozoic era. The distribution of mosses is associated with a preference for moist environments and shaded areas, so most inhabit northern part Earth. Poorly take root in saline areas and deserts.

Bryophyte classes

Leafy mosses is the most numerous class. Plants are composed of stem, leaves and rhizoids.

Stem can grow vertically or horizontally, divided into bark and main tissue (contains water, starch, chloroplasts for photosynthesis).

Stem cells can produce filamentous processes - rhizoids, necessary for anchoring to the soil and absorbing water. They are often located at the base of the stem, but can cover it along its entire length.

Leaves simple, often attached to the stem at a right angle, in a spiral. Leaf blades are equipped with chloroplasts, in the center there is a vein (serves for carrying out nutrients).

Deciduous mosses can reproduce by stems, buds, branches, which give rise to the formation of solid carpets of mosses that cover the ground. The class of leafy plants includes sphagnum mosses (they have a variety of stem colors - light green, yellow, red), andreevy and bry mosses.

liverworts found on the coasts, swamps, rocky terrain. Distinctive features: leaves do not have a vein, dorsoventral structure, a special mechanism for opening the sporophyte.

The leaves are arranged in rows, have two lobes (the lower lobe is often wrapped and serves as a reservoir for water), rhizoidal processes are unicellular. During the rash of spores, the sporophyte box opens into separate valves, and elaters (spring formations) contribute to the dispersion of cells.

Reproduction can be carried out with the help of buds (vegetatively), which are formed at the upper pole of the leaves. Representatives of the class pella endievistnaya, milia anomalous, moss marchantia, etc.

Anthocerotus mosses inhabit the tropical zone. The multinuclear body (thallus) has a rosette shape, consists of the same type of cells. In the upper balls of cells are chromatophores (contain a dark green pigment). The lower part of the thallus gives rise to processes, rhizoids, the body itself forms cavities filled with a viscous fluid that maintains constant moisture.

On the surface of the thallus when not favorable conditions tubers resistant to low humidity are formed, after a period of drought they form a new generation. Plants are monoecious, reproductive organs develop in the thickness of the thallus, the sporophyte stage is predominant. Anthocerotes include folioceros, anthoceros, notothilas, etc.

How do mosses reproduce?

There is an alternation of asexual and sexual reproduction in life cycle mosses. The asexual period begins with the formation of spores and their germination on moist soil (a pregrowth is formed, a thin thread that gives life to male and female individuals). There are two types of mosses:

monoecious- male and female organs reproductions are on the same plant.

Dioecious- Reproductive organs are located in different representatives of the sex.

After the spore germinates, the moss life cycle enters the sexual phase. The organs of sexual reproduction are antheridia (male) and archegonia (female). Representatives of males are weaker than females, smaller in size, after the formation of antheridia they die off.

Spermatozoa are formed on male plants, eggs on female plants, after their fusion a zygote is formed (located on the female, it feeds the immature sporophyte), which later develops into sporangium. After maturation of the sporangium, it opens, spores spill out of it - the asexual reproduction period of mosses begins again.

Reproduction is possible vegetatively, mosses form thalli (green branches), buds, tubers, which take root well on moist soil.

What is the importance of spores in the life of mosses?

Spores are the cells that mosses need to reproduce. Moss plants do not bloom, do not have roots, therefore, in order to continue the genus, they have formed a sporophyte with sporangia (the place where spores ripen).

The sporophyte has a short life cycle; after drying, the spores disperse around, and when they get on moist soil, they quickly take root. Under unfavorable conditions, they can persist for a long time without germinating, resistant to low and high temperatures, and prolonged droughts.

The value of mosses in nature and human life

Mosses are food for many invertebrates.

After dying, they give deposits of peat, which is necessary in the production of plastics, resins, carbolic acid, and is used as fuel or fertilizer.

Moss completely covers the ground in places of growth, which leads to the accumulation of moisture and waterlogging of the territory. Thus, the germination of other vegetation becomes impossible. At the same time, they prevent erosion, soil destruction surface waters and winds. When the mosses die off, they take part in the formation of the soil.

Able to grow in places of fires, persistent and hardy, they inhabit the territory of the tundra (the main vegetation background, since other plants cannot survive in such conditions).

In wartime, sphagnum moss was used as a dressing because of its bactericidal properties and ability to absorb moisture.

With the help of mosses, you can navigate the terrain: they do not like light, therefore they are located with shady side stones, trees. Moss points the man to the north.

In construction, it is used as an insulating, insulating material.

Mosses and lichens are the oldest representatives flora on earth that appeared more than 300 million years ago. Almost all types of mosses are used in medicine as an indispensable source of medicines, and some are even used in construction, due to their low thermal conductivity. The science that studies bryophytes is called bryology, it has about 10,000 types and 100 families.

sphagnum mosses

Among all types of mosses, sphagnum is the most famous. Most often it can be found in swampy areas. On closer examination, it can be seen that the lower part of the sphagnum looks dry and yellowish, at the same time, the upper part is wet and green. This happens due to lack of oxygen and nutrients. The dead part of the moss decomposes and turns into peat, which serves as a fertilizer for sphagnum, and at the same time is used by people in the production of fuel. Representatives of this species are:

1. Sphagnum Baltic.
2. Coastal.
3. bulging.
4. Proreznoy and others.

All varieties of sphagnum, of which there are more than 300, have a mass useful properties. They are widely used in medicine, due to the ability to disinfect wounds and draw pus out of them. Sphagnum-gauze dressings are applied to areas of the skin that have undergone burns or frostbite. When applying a splint to a broken limb, moss can be used as a material that prevents the bandage from rubbing against the skin, and at the same time has a moisturizing effect.

On top of that, sphagnum has antifungal properties. Insoles made on its basis will contribute to less sweating. Sphagnum perfectly absorbs liquid, and is able to absorb water 20 times its mass. Thanks to this property, it copes with bleeding even better than cotton wool, as it does not form a crust when it dries, allowing the skin to breathe.

Sphagnum is also used in the construction of wooden houses. They close all the joints and cracks between the logs, which helps to maintain the temperature in the room. A bath built according to this principle will last much longer and will keep heat well. Gardeners use sphagnum to fertilize their plants. Moss crushed and mixed with the soil will make it many times more fertile. And if you put it on the bottom flower pot sphagnum soaked in water, you can safely not water the plant for several weeks, without fear that it will dry out.

Growing sphagnum at home is quite difficult, but if desired, it is quite realistic. For more effective growth it is necessary to create conditions that are as similar as possible to the natural environment. For swampy sphagnum, a dark and damp place is suitable, and for forest moss - light and moderately moist. Neither one nor the other tolerates an overabundance of minerals in both water and soil. Therefore, it is better to water it with distilled or rain water, and sawdust can be used as earth.

liver mosses

Liverworts are a separate class of bryophytes, which includes several subspecies. They got their name thanks to unusual shape resembling a liver. Liverworts are found mainly in places with a tropical or subtropical climate. Representatives of this species most often have a long stem and leaves.

One of the most beautiful views liverworts is considered - pella. This is extremely rare plant can only be found in the swampy areas of Thailand or China. To grow it at home, you will need an aquarium, as its habitat is water. Pellicle moss can grow on wood, sand, and even stone, but it does not attach well due to the lack of necessary fibers, so the best solution is to fix it yourself with fishing line or thread. The expanded colony will already be able to support itself. It should be borne in mind that the pellia stems are very brittle, therefore, where moss grows, there should not be large and, especially, herbivorous fish. In general, pellia can be an excellent decoration for an aquarium, if properly cared for.

Liverwort flowers are actively used in medicine. They make antibacterial agents and migraine medicines. Dried moss shoots are ground into powder and added to food in a few grams. Tinctures with the addition of liverwort promote better digestion, excretion of bile from the body, increased sweating.

Liverworts are able to reproduce both sexually and vegetatively. Some species of moss can reproduce exclusively by spores. Due to the fact that liverworts are a comprehensive class that includes mosses and lichens various types, most representatives of the species can be radically different from each other.

Leafy mosses

This class includes more than 10 thousand varieties of mosses. Its most famous representative is known to all of school curriculum cuckoo flax. You can find it in almost any forest. Outwardly, cuckoo flax looks like a small tree, as it grows mainly upwards and has many sharp leaves. Under favorable conditions, a moss colony can grow to an incredible size, preventing another plant from breaking through. However, in the natural environment, this is quite rare, for example, when moss falls on freshly burned soil, on which nothing has yet grown. If you plant cuckoo flax in your garden, in the future it will have to be pulled out long and tediously.

When the moss flowers begin to bloom, a small box with seeds appears at the very top of the stalk, closed with a lid. The ripe box opens, and the wind spreads the seeds, from which new shoots will then grow. Due to the fact that cuckoo flax is a rather aggressive species that can actively grow in conditions of moist soil and good lighting, it is considered a pest among foresters.

Since ancient times, kukushkin flax has been indispensable in the construction of wooden huts and baths. This is due to the fact that it is the most common among all types of mosses, in addition, it has long stems, from 10 cm to 1.5 m. Dried cuckoo flax is tied into a strong net with a thickness of 2 cm and placed between logs.

Andrew mosses

Mosses belonging to this class live in cold places with temperatures from -5 ° C. They are quite tough, small and have straight leaves. The thin hairs of mosses allow them to penetrate and take root in the pores of stones, forming a kind of pads, so they can most often be found on the surface of rocks and granite soils.

In total, the species has about 100 representatives, among which are dicranum centipede and rodobrium rosette-shaped. Only 10 species are found on the territory of Russia. They reproduce mainly vegetatively.

oak moss

Evernia plum, or, as it is usually called, oak moss, lives in places with a temperate and northern climate, growing in mountain forests on the branches and trunks of oak, fir, pine or spruce. Oak moss has a bushy, soft thallus and is able to change its color depending on the conditions. So, for example, during a drought, it can be dark red or light yellow, and in warm summer weather - pale white or blue.

Oak moss has strong allergenic properties, however, despite this, it is allowed to use it in small quantities in the production of perfumes. The tart coniferous smell is very much in demand among perfumers. In the past, herbalists used it to scare away wolves and foxes. AT traditional medicine oak moss is also valued, because a tincture of its oil can cure a lot of diseases.

Use for decorative purposes

Mosses and lichens have been widely used in Japanese gardens. Thickets of moss give the sculptures and buildings a majestic, artificially aged look. Already now in many areas you can see whole compositions with its use. In fact, mosses and lichens are not very whimsical plants, so even those who are completely unfamiliar with gardening can plant them on their own.

For those who are not at all versed in the types of moss, it is best to purchase it in a nursery. People who understand this will tell you which type is better to take. If there is none nearby, you can order in an online store or negotiate with a gardener who breeds mossy plants.

On the lawn, moss will look no worse than ordinary grass. Before planting, the soil should be cleared of other plants, and also leveled. If the ground has bumps and depressions, the moss will only accentuate them. To save money, you can divide it into small pieces and plant it at a distance of several centimeters. If he takes root, he will surely fill all the sections. After planting, the moss should be pressed down with something like a board so that it enters the ground more tightly.

Breeding moss on the surface of smooth stones is a little more difficult. He needs time to settle properly. However, with porous stones, everything is much easier. On them, the plant feels the best. The first time after planting, moss needs in large numbers moisture. It needs to be watered every day for a month. In order not to damage the moss that has not yet fully taken root, it is better to use a spray nozzle for a hose or a regular watering can. Kefir is suitable as a fertilizer, as it contains a sufficient amount of bacteria that have a positive effect on growth.

You can also prepare a special mixture of milk and moss in a blender. After that, you need to pour the resulting cocktail into a spray bottle or into a regular jar. Such a solution is a real living paint, which is very popular among landscape designers.

Conclusion

All in all, mosses and lichens are amazing plant species with a plethora of uses. So, for example, medicines made on their basis are highly effective, and architectural structures overgrown with moss always look elegant and authentic. After many thousands of years, people are still discovering new properties of these amazing creations of nature, which have already become simply indispensable for humans.

Most of us know about mosses and lichens only that these are the simplest types of plants, and also that according to which side the moss grows, you can somehow get out of the forest if you get lost. But here such terms as "bryology" or "sphagnum", for everyone who is not a professional biologist, florist or aquarist, may be incomprehensible. Let's fill the gap in knowledge, because it's quite interesting!

What are mosses and where are they found

Mosses (more precisely, bryophytes) are a department of the plant kingdom that combines such species in the reproduction cycle of which the “gametophyte” life stage (sexual generation with a single set of unpaired chromosomes) prevails over the “sporophyte” stage (asexual generation).

The scientific definition of mosses is bryophytes, hence the name of the branch of botany that studies them - bryology. The vast majority of mosses belong to the class of leafy mosses.

The stems of these plants, located above the ground, are dotted with small outgrowth leaves, while the underground part has many long thread-like processes, the so-called rhizoids. Representatives of this species have both similarities and significant differences from their relatives in the kingdom.

Mosses, like fungi and bacteria, reproduce by spores. At this early and transient asexual stage of their life cycle, mosses are the simplest formation (sporophyte) in the form of a box on a stem, physiologically associated with its mother plant.
The sporophyte performs one single function - it ensures the maturation of spores, after which it quickly dries up and dies.

The bryophyte of the sexual generation - the second stage of the life cycle - is perennial(gametophyte), which has the likeness of root processes and leaf-like outgrowths. However, this is only an external resemblance to deciduous plants.

Important! Mosses have no roots, no flowers, no vascular system in the traditional sense of these terms.

Due to the absence of a true root system, mosses are critically dependent on air humidity up to a complete suspension of vital activity in dry times. As soon as the moisture level is restored, the plant comes to life. It is difficult to imagine a place where mosses grow.

These plants, under favorable conditions, are capable of covering vast areas in forests and interforests with a continuous blanket, settling on soil, trees, other plants, stones, sand, in any climatic zones - from the Arctic to the desert. They do not get along only in salty sea water.

The meaning of mosses

The importance of mosses in the formation and development of the Earth's biosphere can hardly be overestimated. Since prehistoric times, the ancient progenitors of modern lichens, mosses and ferns gradually colonized the previously lifeless wastelands, creating, as a result of their vital activity, the soil cover necessary for other plants, and thus becoming a kind of "pioneer" in the gardening of our planet.

Important! Bryophytes are the basis of marsh ecosystems. In arid areas, due to the property, like a sponge, to accumulate and retain large volumes of water, mossy thickets prevent the onset of the desert.

In places of their dominant growth, bryophytes are able to cover vast areas of the earth's surface, acting as a natural refuge for animals and birds. In areas of tundra and permafrost, they are a stabilizing factor preventing melting. ground ice, the formation of landslides and ravines, contribute to the preservation of the terrain.

Video: the meaning of mosses

If we talk about the importance of bryophytes for humans, then their use is very diverse. Extracts from certain species of these plants can be used in cosmetology and medicine as tonic, antiseptic and hemostatic agents.

For residents of the Far North, far from civilization, moss is very relevant as a natural insulation of dwellings, and, say, in the taiga it can be used as dressings in the provision of medical care.

Ornamental moss species are one of the most important elements landscape design and design floristic compositions. And yet, above all, human life peat is used - natural deposits of dying sphagnum mosses.

• as a fuel in the energy sector;
• as a raw material and filler for soil mixtures and fertilizers, as well as mulch in agricultural technology and agriculture;
• as bedding on fur farms and poultry farms;
• as a heater in construction;
• in metallurgy, medicine, chemical industry, ecology and many other industries.

forest mosses

The forest is an ideal place for the growth of bryophytes. Here they coexist on trees, stones, along the banks of streams and lakes, preferring moderately shaded, damp places, often covering large areas with a continuous carpet.

All of them belong to the class of leafy mosses, which means that they have a stem covered with small leaves in the aerial (above-water) part, and downy with numerous outgrowths in the lower, constantly dying part. Different kinds mosses differ not only in the shape and color of the leaves, but also in the density and direction of growth of the stems.
It should be noted that in warm and humid weather, mossy thickets always have a lush and juicy appearance, playing with colors from bluish-green to yellow-brown, which creates a truly delightful sight. In the absence of moisture, all this splendor quickly fades, as if covered with a thick layer of dust.

The most common representatives of forest bryophytes include:

1. Climacium.

The aerial part of the climatium is a low stem (up to 15 centimeters), which rises vertically upwards, branching several times in a bushy manner in all directions, and indeed resembling a small tree.
The “trunk” and “branches” of this tree are dotted with small scaly leaves, which, when dry, play with bright yellowish-green hues.

Did you know? Interestingly, mosses can "wake up" even after a very long freeze. So, in 2014, scientists found samples of frozen mosses at the South Pole. Their age was determined at 1530 years. After some two or three weeks spent in an incubator with suitable conditions, the moss began to grow. Among bryologists, this event was perceived as a sensation.

The lower (underground) part of the stem is creeping, dotted with barely noticeable rhizoidal filaments. Branching, it forms a semblance of a network, in the nodes of which bushes of the aerial part rise. The cylindrical box of sporogon is located on a long red stalk and contains from 12 to 15 spores.

Climacium can often be found in bright areas in dense moist forests, near swamps, rivers, along the banks of lakes.

This name hides a whole genus of moss, numbering more than forty varieties.

The most common representatives of this genus are as follows:

• mnium, or mnium wavy;
• mnium wrinkled;
• mnium spiky or forest;
• mnium medium;
• mnium point;
• mnium zinclide.

The main feature of the mnium is rather large (up to 5 mm) oval-shaped leaves, freely located in the same plane on two opposite sides on a single stem, not exceeding five centimeters in length.

Did you know? Surprising is the fact that the living cells of the leaves of the mnium are also located in the same plane. In other words, the sheet has the minimum possible thickness - just one cell.

In dry weather, the leaves of the mnium are extremely wrinkled and greatly reduced in size. Sporogon has an oval box hanging from a yellowish-red leg, no more than 3 centimeters long. In a box, from 17 to 30 spores can ripen (depending on the variety).

Mnium is distributed everywhere, mainly in forests, while preferring densely planted pine forests with moist soil. Often settles on stones and old stumps, forming bright green thickets.

In pine forests and spruce forests (necessarily with an admixture of pine) you can find one of the most elegant bryophytes - ptilium. Despite its ubiquitous distribution, it almost never forms a continuous cover on the ground, preferring to settle at the base of trees, forming single, but dense thickets of pale yellow or yellow Green colour with a silky sheen.
Ptilium has medium height stems (can reach 20 centimeters), from which many densely arranged branches with leaves extend in opposite directions. In their appearance, these formations resemble a bird's feather or fern leaves. The leaves of this moss, in contrast to the mnium, are very small, narrow (up to 1 mm), pointed, with many longitudinal folds.

The spore box is cylindrical, slightly flattened, almost always horizontal. The leg of the sporogon is red, from 2 to 5 centimeters in length. The number of spores in a box is from 10 to 14 pieces.

There are many different landscapes in the forest zone. These are forest thickets, and hilly meadows, and fields, and even rock massifs. However, the swamp is a special, unique world of its kind! It has been formed for decades, and can live for millennia, while constantly expanding and capturing more and more new territories.

Surprisingly, it is the moss that contributes to this. More precisely, its representatives are sphagnidia. Sphagnum, it is also called white or peat moss, is a genus that unites more than forty species of swamp mosses, each of which can be reliably identified only in the process of microscopic examination.
It is a small, bundle-like branching stem, covered with small leaves arranged in a spiral. The color of the plant varies from yellowish green to purplish red (depending on the variety). There are no rhizoids on the lower (underwater) part of the stem.

Sphagnum has a certain set of unusual properties that distinguish it from other mossy plants. The first feature is that the sphagnum stem grows only upwards.

At the same time, the lower part of the stem (usually located under water) dies off, turning into peat, at approximately the same rate as the upper one grows (about one millimeter per year). This way of existence can provide a life expectancy of more than one thousand years (for reference: other mosses live no more than 10 years).

Did you know? The Witmoor bog (Germany) has a peat layer of about 18 meters deep,and its age is about 2000 years.

The next feature of sphagnides is that they synthesize acids that prevent the development of bacteria, which significantly slows down the processes of decay in swamps and promotes the formation of peat. An acidic environment, in addition, oppresses competitors and allows you to capture new living spaces.

Another property of sphagnum is the ability to absorb and retain water due to the presence of special cells with a porous structure. During periods high humidity this moss is able to accumulate huge amounts of liquid, which also leads to a shift in the water balance and the capture of new territories.

Rodobrium, or rosette-shaped rodobrium, is another representative of leafy mosses that can be found in a coniferous forest (mainly spruce). If the coniferous litter is well moistened, the rodobrium is found on it in the form of many small bunches of dark green color - rosettes of leaves slightly raised above the ground, each on its own stalk.
The stem is solitary, up to 10 cm in height, can have branching shoots both in the upper (apical) and lower (underground) parts. Apical shoots often grow through the rosette. In the ground part, the stem is covered with a rhizoid down.

Rhodobrium leaves have an ovoid-elongated shape, reach 10 mm in length, are slightly twisted, and closer to the top they are pointed. In each bunch, from 15 to 20 leaves can be collected. Leaves of this size are considered quite large compared to other leafy mosses.

If you look at the Rhodobrium rosette from the side, you can note its resemblance to a palm tree. Spore boxes rise above the rosette on thick red legs, have an oblong shape and are capable of carrying up to 18 spores.

This species is distributed in the taiga zone of mid-southern latitudes, less common in the north. Listed in the Red Book.

This moss is very widespread. Often found in coniferous forests, and often it forms the basis of the moss cover of forest soils. More tends to the northern regions, there is a lot of it in the permafrost regions and the deserts of the Arctic.

Did you know? Buddhist monks created entire moss gardens, the most famous of which is located in a monastery near Kyoto and is listed as a UNESCO cultural heritage.

Hylocomium has a multi-stage arcuate stem up to 20 centimeters long, usually red. Each new arc corresponds to the next year of plant development and is laid just below the top of last year's arc.

The formed stem arch strongly branches in three or four places, forming a stepped sloping-ascending structure. The stem and its branches are densely dotted with leaves, which are tiny green scales, difficult to see with the eye due to their size.
Sporonoses hylocomium in spring. Sporogon is formed at the top of last year's stem just above the young green shoot. A slightly curved, egg-shaped sporogon box, located on a low reddish stalk, stores from 12 to 17 spores.

Thus, mosses are a completely independent and amazing kingdom in its diversity. common world plants. You can devote your whole life to studying them, and still many secrets will remain unsolved.

One thing is certain: if there were no mosses, our planet would be completely different, because it is these plants that ensure the course of many biological processes, and even our civilized life practically cannot do without them.

Mosses and lichens are 100% space pioneers. It was they who first "came out" on land, adapted to life on it, and also became the material for the formation of humus. In addition, mosses and lichens underlie the evolution of plants.

What are mosses and lichens

• mosses- these are higher spore plants that belong to the department of the Moss-like kingdom of Plants.
• Lichens – lower plants formed by the symbiosis of fungi and bacteria.

Comparison of mosses and lichens

What is the difference between mosses and lichens?

Mosses appeared on Earth at the end of the Devonian - at the beginning of the Carboniferous period. Mosses are present on all continents, including Antarctica. The only condition necessary for the life of mosses is the presence of a sufficient amount of moisture required for the organization of the reproduction process.

Lichens appeared in the early Devonian. They are distributed on all continents and were able to adapt to life and rise to the maximum height for plants in mountainous areas.

mosses are miniature plants. They have no roots, so they are attached to the substrate with the help of multicellular hair-like processes - rhizoids. In addition to fixing in the soil, rhizoids play the role of delivering water and nutrients to the body. But these same substances can enter the plant through the stem and leaves. The leaves and stems of mosses contain chlorophyll, becoming the site for the process of photosynthesis.

Lichens These are amazing plants. Their body - thallus - is formed by the cohabitation of fungi and algae. But forcibly separated components of the lichen organism are able to exist independently. In the lichen thallus, fungal hyphae form an upper and lower crust. And in the middle, like a filling in a pie, there are algae. They are involved in photosynthesis, possessing the pigment chlorophyll. Lichens do not have roots. As a result of life processes, fungal hyphae release acid, destroying the substrate to which they are attached.

mosses are dioecious plants. females on their tops they have organs containing eggs, and male organisms have organs containing spermatozoa. They are sporophytes, one of two generations that dominate the moss life cycle. After pollination on female plant sporangium is formed. Spores ripen in it, which, having fallen into humid environment, sprout. From this green thread - the gametophyte - new female and male individuals grow over time.

Lichens can reproduce vegetatively, asexually and sexually, forming characteristic fruiting bodies.
Moss retains water in the soil, sometimes swamping it. Mosses were the first dressing material and are the basis for the formation of peat.

Not enduring pollution in the atmosphere, lichens have become ideal indicators of the state of the air. Lichens are considered biological destroyers rocks and the basis of the process of soil formation.

The difference between mosses and lichens is as follows:

• Lichens appeared on Earth earlier than mosses and have a wider area of ​​distribution.
• Moss is a single organism, lichen is a conglomeration of organisms capable of independent existence.
• Mosses are at a higher evolutionary stage of development than lichens.
• Both plants have different biological and economic importance.