mosses are small green green plants that have no flowers. they grow throughout the world. most mosses are found in moist, shady places. they make soft, thick mats on rocks or soil or at the bottom of a tree.
mosses have no roots. instead, they have threadlike parts that hold them to the surface they grow on. their short stems are covered with tiny leaves.
when mosses grow, they go through two different forms. the first form is the green plant. in many mosses, each plant grows a male and female part at the top of the stem. the male part makes sperm cells and female part makes egg cells.
when the male part is ripe, it buests. some sperm cells reach the egg cells. then the second form grows. it is a long, upright stalk with with a pod-like capsule at the end. inside the capsule are small plant cells called spores. when the spores are ripe, the capsule bursts. if a spore falls in a damp place, it grows into the first form again.
mosses help the environment. some mosses hold large amounts of water. this helps prevent flooding and also keeps soil from wearing away. when mosses die, they enrich the soil. this helps other plants grow.
in some parts of the world, layers of dead moss form peat. peat can be dried and used as fuel. it is also used to hold water and help plants grow.