The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 12 Autumn 2015 High res | Page 9

Conservation

Moss is not for picking
By Sally Preston

There are over 12,000
species of moss worldwide;
some of these are
indigenous to Zimbabwe
and are found growing
profusely in the Eastern
Highlands and other
wetter parts of the country.
However, the moss in
Zimbabwe should only be
seen, and not picked!
Although Bryophytes, commonly
known as moss, are not on Zimbabwe’s
list of protected species, they are
illegal to pick, collect and sell, as vast
amounts have been ripped from their
natural, fragile habitats in the last few
decades. Some of our local ecosystems
have been stripped of colonies of this
special small, flowerless and seedless,
spore-producing plant. These areas will
take decades to return to their former
mossy green carpets.
Moss has a superior absorptive quality
and can soak up to twenty times their
weight in liquids, which makes it a
valuable commodity in the floral and
horticultural industries. Most gardeners,
awhile back, used it for its aesthetic
appeal in hanging basket liners and
floral arrangements. Nowadays, they are
being used in the ever-increasing dried
flower arrangements, sold in our local
markets and on the street corners for
funeral caskets. However useful it may
be, please do not buy these products, as
you will be encouraging more people to
destroy the natural moss habitats.
Please note that Sphagnum moss, also
known as bog or peat moss, is a moss
we often hear about in international DIY
projects and magazines, but it doesn’t
occur in Zimbabwe. It grows mainly in
the Northern hemisphere, in places like
Scotland. In addition to its’ superior
absorptive qualities, Sphagnum
moss has a high acidity, which can be
extremely useful when mixing them
with soils in the gardening business to
increase the acidity of the soil.

Globally, moss has had a variety of
uses throughout the centuries; it was
a useful material to use as insulation
in boots, coats and mittens in colder
climates as well as to fill chinks in
houses, or as bedding. Due to its
antiseptic properties, it was used as a
wound dressing in Scotland and the
dressing was produced commercially
during World War 1. These useful
properties are due to moss being able
to survive in extreme dry conditions
for months on end, losing almost all of
their water as well as appearing dead
and dehydrated, but returning to life
within a few hours of rehydration.
Besides their usefulness, moss can also
be troublesome in greenhouses, on
paving stones and pathways, making it
very slippery for passing pedestrians.
To reduce the growth of the moss in
these hazardous circumstances, the
amount of water should be decreased
or sunlight increased in that area,
or the pH can be increased with an
application of lime to reduce the
acidity, which inhibits the favourable
conditions in which they like to grow.
To eradicate them completely apply
bleach (Jik) into a bucket of water
and scrub down the stone wal