"scientists said they have found tiny brown cigar-shaped spores on a patch of the moss on a wall at Penyghent Hill in the undulating Yorkshire Dales -- the first time since 1866 that the moss is known to have reproduced."
..."Patches of Nowell's Moss have continued to grow on Yorkshire's traditional limestone walls, but its spread has declined as the walls have deteriorated. The plant produces no flowers, but shoots out its brownish spores after reproduction between male and female plants.
Rumsey said researchers found the moss is "still abundant in small areas in low altitudes, but some of the colonies were all one sex and there were no opportunities for them to reproduce. In some of the sites there were both sexes, but they were a meter (yard) or two apart and that may not seem far, but for a very small sperm that is a long way to swim."
"They need a continuous stream of moisture. Therefore the plants can't successfully colonize and so stopped reproducing sexually."
posted on January 8, 2003 12:54:43 PM new
Good one bunni
[joking] All I hope is that this moss isn't growing on some poor farmers land or he won't be able to grow his crops once the environmentalists get word of this.
posted on January 8, 2003 01:41:52 PM new
This reminds me of a Dr. Phil show I saw (speaking of bad sex lives). This couple were having sex problems. The guy was almost in tears when he explained that his wife only wanted sex about twice a week but he wanted it multiple times a day. For sure I thought he would prescribe downers or something for the guy but instead he asked the wife if she would be willing to compromise... can you believe it? I thought the wife should have gotten a medal for being so active already!
posted on January 8, 2003 03:13:05 PM new
I think I might have seen that show, KD. There was another couple who were having the exact problem, but in the reverse [the wife wanted to make love more than her husband]. Dr. Phil joked that maybe they should switch partners and all would be well.
lol, junquemama
I fear I may have taken bunni's thread in a different direction than she wanted it to go. If so, I take full blame and apologize to you, bunni.
[ edited by Linda_K on Jan 8, 2003 03:15 PM ]
posted on January 8, 2003 04:10:04 PM new
Ive never watched Dr.Phil..David Letterman jokes about Dr. Phil, nightly.
Oops, I did it too....Its LindaK, and Kraftys, fault......
posted on January 8, 2003 04:34:01 PM new
I had nothing to do with it junque... it's all Linda's fault!
And speaking of plants, did you know that no other place in the world can produce real vanilla except Mexico. They've tried growing it in other tropical countries with no luck. Turns out that a particular moth is responsible for fertilization and is only found in Mexico. All other countries that grow it have to get cuttings from Mexico.
posted on January 8, 2003 04:49:28 PM new
Ahhh yes I see,It was LindaK,Shes such a trouble maker...Damn her independant ways!
I "love" vanilla candles,Not only the aroma,They take odors out of a room,fish,cigerettes,etc.I didnt know Mexico was the only Country that grew vanilla.Learn something new everyday...
posted on January 8, 2003 05:43:54 PM new
What I found amazing is that the moss was able to survive 130 years. Trees, sure--but moss seems so fragile that you don't expect it to be so long-lived. Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
