Mosses are only superficially inconspicuous. In fact, the more than 25,000 moss species worldwide have fascinating properties coupled with unique survival strategies. Anyone who has been fascinated by the green cosmopolitans would like to find out more about the multifaceted species. Here you can find out how to approach the matter as a beginner.
If you want to identify mosses, you should collect a few of them and examine them at home
Proper equipment simplifies identification
We encounter mosses in fields and forests, on mountain peaks and in the desert. Naturally, curiosity needs to be satisfied as soon as an unknown species of moss catches your eye. To determine moss on site, the following equipment is helpful:
- A strong magnifying glass or a small microscope
- A determination book for mosses, such as 'Identifying mosses simply and safely' from the publishers Quelle-Meyer-Verlag
- In addition, for advanced learners, a key for identifying mosses as a field key
Furthermore, membership in a bryological association makes sense. Members have access to up-to-date information, literature, images and forums for exchanging experiences, which enable mosses to be identified even without previous scientific knowledge.
Tips on collecting moss for identification at home
In order to identify a highly interesting moss in peace and quiet at home, it should be professionally collected and transported. We have put together a list of things you should pay attention to here:
- Use your fingers to loosen a small piece of the moss cushion from the edge
- Record any spore capsules (sporophytes) that are present, as they simplify identification
- Put the moss in a paper bag or a folded handkerchief
- Record location and time of discovery, including local soil conditions
In order not to unnecessarily complicate the identification, the transport time should not be more than 2 hours, so that the rootless land plants do not dry out.
tips
Have you collected and successfully identified moss? Then don't throw away the valuable plant material. Even when it has dried, you can grow a fresh green carpet of moss from it. To do this, fill a bowl with lean substrate, sprinkle the dry, crumbled moss on it, spray it with water and put a plastic bag over it.