Magnificent Mosses

Instructors: Tristan Knight, Terrastory Environmental Consulting, and Bob Bowles, Coordinator of the Ontario Master Naturalist Program

Description: There are 548 species of mosses in Ontario, and 239 species have been found in Simcoe County alone! In this session, participants will learn about the life cycle of bryophytes in comparison to that of vascular plants, and discuss the ecological requirements of these understudied species. Participants will learn to effectively use both hand lenses and microscopes to identify mosses, and then discuss the incredible ecological value of these plants. They will also learn about how mosses can be effectively incorporated into home landscaping in ways that are more environmentally friendly than tuft grass lawns. In the field, we will examine many species of mosses and liverworts.