You may be surprised to learn that this elegant plant dappled with water droplets is a variety of moss: Tortula muralis, better known as wall screw-moss. It"s found all over the world, even in urban areas where more sensitive mosses have a hard time thriving because of dry soil and air pollution. Mosses in general are accurate monitors of air pollution—they absorb air and water, so contaminants can also be measured in their cells.
Tortula moss, Netherlands
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Unearthing a queen s lost tale
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Finding a balance between wetlands and water treatment
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The city of Osaka at night, Japan
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Presidents Day in America’s front yard
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Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
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Giant kelp in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
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’Chess on ice’
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Cherry blossoms in Shanghai, China
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Celebrating World Olive Tree Day
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Glacier cave in Iceland
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Pollinator Week
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Tassili n’Ajjer, Sahara, Algeria
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Cheetah in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
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How lovely are your branches
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Join us in celebrating World Water Day
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Happy Mother s Day
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Smoking nights in Austria
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Iceland awaits the Yule Lads
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Celebrating Take Your Dog to Work Day
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World Maritime Day
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World Octopus Day
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A city, a cliff, a canyon…and cheese
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Cousins Day
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A magnificent monolith
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Male kori bustard, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
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Swinging into International Jazz Day
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Our Lady of the Rocks
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Freshwater plants in Aquário Natural, Brazil
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Art over Amalfi
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Burrowing owls