In the era of digital technologies, knowing the landmarks on the ground to determine the cardinal points is no longer as relevant as it used to be. However, situations are different, everything can come in handy. If you remember which side the moss grows from, then you can confidently find the right direction.
Moss features
Moss appeared on the planet and spread many millions of years ago, long before the advent of dinosaurs. This group of undersized plants creeping along the ground grows from spores. They do not have a true root, stem and leaves. Mosses do not produce flowers or seeds. However, they find an opportunity to survive in all climatic zones.
And for this they don't even need soil. They can grow on any hard surface: stone, tree trunk, stump. On which side does moss grow on them? It will grow where conditions are most suitable. Mosses do not like light. Therefore, the southern parts of a clearing, slope, stone, stump or tree are the least suitable for them.
The structure of tissues in mosses is notinvolves the transfer of nutrients from the soil to the top of the plant, where spores are formed. They take everything they need from the environment and absorb it with their entire surface. The so-called roots serve only to fix in a certain place.
Which side does the moss grow on if it managed to gain a foothold, but it has to spread in different directions to develop? It's not a problem. Moss can tolerate drought, grow in a changing light environment, as long as there is moisture. They have it reserved for a while. If the dry period lasts for weeks, then the plant curls, fades and shrinks. Moisture evaporation is reduced to a minimum. It may seem that the moss has died, but as soon as the rain passes, it becomes fresh and viable overnight.
Where moss grows
These plants are not as weak and delicate as it seems at first glance. Some species have adapted to live in the tropics. Others are found even in Antarctica and the Far North. On which side do mosses and lichens grow in a harsh climate? In this case, there is no need to talk about the choice of a particular direction. If it takes a sunny side to melt the ice and turn it into life-giving moisture, moss will grow there too.
But mosses are most common in the temperate zone. In the forest, you can often find places where these plants have formed entire carpets of soft greenery on the soil. If a stump or a trunk of a fallen tree comes across in the path of distribution, then this is not an obstacle. Soonthey are completely hidden under this carpet.
Which side does moss grow on trees and stumps in this case? It makes no sense to look for direction in such places. Although if you look closely, you can see the differences. The south side of the tree, which receives more and more sun, will be less humid and the green carpet there will be less dense.
Which side moss grows on trees
The northern part of the trunk is illuminated by the luminary when it is already leaning towards sunset. The low sun heats the bark less, there is more moisture left, which means that there are optimal development conditions for mosses and lichens. If a tree trunk or stump is completely covered with a green carpet, then you should pay attention to the part where it is larger, it is thicker and wetter. It is easier to identify at the root, at the junction of the trunk with the soil. The location of the greatest concentration is likely to be on the northern side of the horizon.
Moss has been observed to appear on relatively old trees. It usually doesn't happen to young people. Does it harm the garden? By themselves, moss and lichen are not dangerous either for cultivated species or for humans. Some species are used in landscape design, some are used for stuffing pillows. However, developing on the trunk, mosses cover the bark of the tree, which contributes to the deterioration of its breathing. Garden pests hide in the thickness and find a permanent habitat.
It is also believed that the presence of this species in the garden on trees (no matter which side the moss grows on) indicates excessive shading of the territory, and,may need to be trimmed. On the other hand, the presence of lichen indicates the relative ecological cleanliness of the garden. These plants do not grow in polluted areas. If necessary, you can get rid of the moss with a wooden scraper. It is torn off the bark with this device, and the place is treated with a solution of lime or vitriol.
Determination of cardinal points
Is it possible to replace the compass only by knowing the basics of orienteering? To a certain extent, yes. Knowing which side mosses and lichens grow more often, you can approximately determine the northern direction. However, this should not be done in one place. It makes sense to double-check the landmark in another clean clearing.
A tree growing in the neighborhood can affect the accuracy of the determination. If it with its trunk or crown obscures the sunlight from the south, east or west side, then the moss will feel just as good there as it does on the north.
The correct direction of travel can be determined with a high probability if there are other natural landmarks, knowing how to use them to determine the cardinal directions in addition to growing moss.
