Book 4, Question 11
Why Is Moss So Soft and Low?
Moss is a tiny plant with no true tall stem and no thick roots. It hugs rock and soil like a soft green cushion. Staying low keeps it in the damp layer near the ground.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 4
More fun facts
- Mosses have no tubes inside to carry water, so they lack the support to grow tall.
- Instead, mosses grow flat and low to the ground.
- Arctic moss can survive freezing temperatures and very strong winds by staying low and storing energy.
- Moss helps hold soil in place.
- Look closely at a bed of moss and you may find spiders and other tiny animals hiding there.
- In World War I, doctors packed soldiers' wounds with sphagnum moss.
- Some Native Americans lined their babies' cradles with moss as a natural diaper.
Sources: National Park Service, NASA Science, Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
Why can't moss grow tall like trees?
Moss has no inner tubes to carry water and hold it up, so it stays low.