Have you ever taken a close look at mosses? They’re simply elegant, and you can find them almost anywhere. They’re not that hard to tell apart especially with Ralph Pope’s moss field guide, so why not get to know them?
Fungi on the Move
Fungi use mushrooms to disperse their offspring, much like plants use fruits. The spores of fungi can be spread by wind, by animals, or by a combination. The oddest fungi are stinkhorns, which do it by smelling like rotting meat, attracting flies to transport their spores.
Why Do Leaves Change Colors?
Why do leaves change color in the fall? I asked Bowdoin College Biologist Barry Logan that question. It turns out that the answer depends upon what color you’re talking about. Who knew that red acts like a leaf’s sunscreen?