MOSSES: Green Gold in the Farm, Could it be the Future Sustainable Landscaping?

Have you ever seen mosses plants on a stone not just in a soil?

I was amazed by this natural creation of mosses on its subtle and greenery view. I couldn't resist of having a photos of them. I was walking on that time and these moss formation catches my eyes cause it forms like a unicorn. I don't think so if we have the same perspective but this captivated me a lot. I even got one and formed it a heart shape. I could remember those days when we where young, we played moss just like sabong using the calyptra (parts of the plants).

"Unicorn look-like mosses on a stone"

Let's have a look of What are moss plants and how important are those, could it be a future sustainable landscaping?

Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (/braɪˈɒfətə/,[4] /ˌbraɪ.əˈfaɪtə/) sensu stricto. Bryophyta (sensu lato, Schimp. It may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and hornworts. Mosses typically form dense green clumps or mats, often in damp or shady locations. The individual plants are usually composed of simple leaves that are generally only one cell thick, attached to a stem that may be branched or unbranched and has only a limited role in conducting water and nutrients. Although some species have conducting tissues, these are generally poorly developed and structurally different from similar tissue found in vascular plants. Mosses do not have seeds and after fertilization develop sporophytes with unbranched stalks topped with single capsules containing spores. They are typically 0.2–10 cm (0.1–3.9 in) tall, though some species are much larger. Dawsonia Superba, the tallest moss in the world, can grow to 60 cm (24 in) in height. There are approximately 12,000 species.

"moss leaves under a microscope"

Mosses are commonly confused with liverworts, hornworts and lichens. Although often described as non-vascular plants, many mosses have advanced vascular systems. Like liverworts and hornworts, the haploid gametophyte generation of mosses is the dominant phase of the life cycle. This contrasts with the pattern in all vascular plants (seed plants and pteridophytes), where the diploid sporophyte generation is dominant. Lichens may superficially resemble mosses, and sometimes have common names that include the word "moss" (e.g., "reindeer moss" or "Iceland moss"), but they are fungal symbioses and not related to mosses.

The main commercial significance of mosses is as the main constituent of peat (mostly the genus Sphagnum), although they are also used for decorative purposes, such as in gardens and in the florist trade. Traditional uses of mosses included as insulation and for the ability to absorb liquids up to 20 times their weight. Mosses are keystone species and benefit habitat restoration and reforestation.

Green roofs and walls

Red moss, possibly Ceratodon purpureus, cultivated on a green roof
Mosses are sometimes used in green roofs. Advantages of mosses over higher plants in green roofs include reduced weight loads, increased water absorption, no fertilizer requirements, and high drought tolerance. Since mosses do not have true roots, they require less planting medium than higher plants with extensive root systems. With proper species selection for the local climate, mosses in green roofs require no irrigation once established and are low maintenance. Mosses are also used on green walls.

Mossery
A passing fad for moss-collecting in the late 19th century led to the establishment of mosseries in many British and American gardens. The mossery is typically constructed out of slatted wood, with a flat roof, open to the north side (maintaining shade). Samples of moss were installed in the cracks between wood slats. The whole mossery would then be regularly moistened to maintain growth.

Aqua scaping
Aqua scaping uses many aquatic mosses. They do best at low nutrient, light, and heat levels, and propagate fairly readily. They help maintain a water chemistry suitable for aquarium fish. They grow more slowly than many aquarium plants, and are fairly hardy.

Growth inhibition
Moss can be a troublesome weed in containerized nursery operations and greenhouses. Vigorous moss growth can inhibit seedling emergence and penetration of water and fertilizer to the plant roots.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moss

Truly there are lots of uses of mosses plants everywhere and nowadays, others use it on landscaping.

Note: Photos were originally mine taken on Oppo Reno5A and the first picture was edited on Canva.