Moss

Description:

Waxy little plants with no leaves and no stem that use each other to stay upright. Their inability to stay up is why you never see one little moss plant; it's always a group. That grouping also helps them retain water in the area. A waxy covering across their bodies helps keep water from evaporating. You will usually find them in moist areas out of the direct sunlight.

Habitat:

Rock exposed by erosion alongside the trail.

Notes:

Mosses break down exposed substrata, releasing nutrients for the use of more complex plants that succeed them. They aid in soil-erosion control by providing surface cover and absorbing water, and they are important in the nutrient and water economy of some vegetation types.