Lost
by Jon Burch Photography
Title
Lost
Artist
Jon Burch Photography
Medium
Photograph - Digital Capture And Enhancement
Description
Every Boy Scout knows that to find north, look for moss growing on the north sides of trees, right? Maybe yes, maybe no...
Mosses belong to a phylum of small, soft plants that are typically 0.4-4 inches tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations, do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems
Since moss has no vascular system to transport water through the plant or waterproofing systems to prevent tissue water from evaporating, they must have a damp environment in which to grow, and a surrounding of liquid water to reproduce. Mosses are autotrophic as they require enough sunlight to conduct photosynthesis. However, shade tolerance varies by species, just as it does with higher plants. In most areas, mosses grow chiefly in areas of dampness and shade, such as wooded areas and at the edges of streams; but they can grow anywhere in cool damp cloudy climates, and some species are adapted to sunny, seasonally dry areas like alpine rocks or stabilized sand dunes.
Mosses will grow on the north, south, west and east of trees and buildings, wherever there is enough moisture to sustain them. The location depends on various factors, such as prevailing winds, and therefore, not exclusively on shade. If the south side of the tree you happen to be looking at is partly shaded, perhaps by another tree, moss will colonize it readily.
Note to the Boy Scouts: you might be better served by looking at the Sun or the stars at night. When it's dark, find the Big Dipper. The top and bottom stars (Dubhe and Merak) at the end of the 'bowl' are called the 'pointer' stars. That is, they point to Polaris, our North Star. During daylight hours, point the hour hand of your analogue watch at the Sun. If you are in the northern hemisphere, half way between the hour hand and the number 12 is SOUTH. If you happen to have a cell phone or a digital watch instead of an analogue one with hands, just draw a clock face on the ground with the current hour pointed at the Sun.
Everything is opposite in the southern hemisphere. In this case it means that half way between the hour hand pointing toward the Sun and 12:00 is NORTH. Forget the moss thing...
Image copyright 2013 Jon Burch Photography
Uploaded
May 22nd, 2013
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