You Aren’t Paying Enough Attention to Moss

Mosses were among the first land plants to evolve out of the ocean roughly 450 million years ago. It grows everywhere, from the world’s harshest landscapes to cracks in the sidewalk. This episode of Untold Earth gets up close and personal with the mosses of the Hoh Rainforest to understand their vital role in this ecosystem and potential to offer a glimpse into our planet’s future.

Untold Earth explores the seeming impossibilities behind our planet’s strangest, most unique natural wonders. From fragile, untouched ecosystems to familiar but unexplained occurrences in our own backyard, this series chases insight into natural phenomena through the voices that know them best.

Untold Earth is produced in partnership with Atlas Obscura and Nature.

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[chonglers]

I always liked the aesthetic of how moss makes a forest look more lush. Good to know what they actually do and their history now

[THarSul]

Considering how many forests we've cleared for the sake of logging, I wonder if part of the problem with these forest fires in Canada is the lack of well established mosses and undergrowth in those regions, turning what would have been a lush forest into a veritable tinderbox, just waiting to be ignited.

[chaerodactyl]

Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer is a beautiful exploration of the function and folklore of bryology, for anyone interested in learning more about our fuzzy green friends

[cass_p]

Moss is so underrated, thank you for drawing more attention to it

[TheShoe]

The Hoh Rainforest is the single most beautiful place I've ever been.

[drewselby]

I LOVE living in Washington because of stuff like this. I grew up near the Hoh rainforest, it's amazing

[kaitlyn__L]

I always thought moss seemed like land algae, as a kid. Nice to know it was the first terrestrial plant to evolve

[goosenotmaverick]

I am always paying attention to moss. It's so underrated and also glorious! I have at least 5 species of moss growing on my property that I'm aware of, maybe more.

[starscream]

A lore dump on Moss is literally the best thank you so much

[sunandsage]

I like the way it makes an area such as the Pacific Northwest smell. For one of a better term I call it a clean wet smell.

[TheKosstImogen]

I pay a lot of attention to moss, tyvm!

[derflerp]

My mom instilled an affection for moss in me at a very young age, she'd always point it out to me all excited and it definitely rubbed off on me. Love the stuff

[earthwendy]

Moss is indeed filled with all that and more—including moss piglets (tardigrades)! Loved this Terra entry. Was hoping for a mention, tho, of the good habitat moss provides as well for the tiniest of animals.

[leo-]

moss is genuinely my favorite plant but also the most underappreciated.

[jacobv]

It's really cool to see the Hoh Rainforest being shown! The Pacific Northwest is the most beautiful area in the U.S.A.!

[whatreallyisart]

I highly suggest reading Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer if you find this video interesting and want to know more!!

[amyhayutin]

Just spent time in the Tongass Forest, definitely noticed the moss. Beautiful. Also, found a mossy fen in the mountains between Silverton and Ouray, CO. I was not expecting that! I felt like I was walking on pillows, amazing!

[jillysjourney]

Moss is one of the joys of living in the PNW! So lucky! ❤

[realityglitch]

Supposedly, certain mosses make for a better lawn than grass does; no need to mow, they use up less water, and they still look nice.

[newarchillabog]

I made a terrarium and moved. Came back years later and my grandma still had it. That's what took me down the "moss hole." If you will. Thank you for the info.