Spring is officially here! We've had rains and warmer days and while out walking with my camera on Saturday afternoon I saw the moss has geared up for sexy time.
Mosses as you may or may not know reproduce sexually via spores not seeds There are male parts, antheridia, and female parts, archegonia. They can occur on the same plant but are most likely found on different plants. The antherozoids or sperm are motile, swimming using two theadlike tails and are chemically attracted to the archegonium where fertilisation occurs to create a zygote. It is then that the second phase of the moss reproductive cycle begins with the formation of the sporophyte or spore plant. An interesting fact is that the sporophyte grows out of the archegonium of the female plant by cell division and is effectively a parasite for this phase. The sporophytes have a distinct four-part structure comprised of a foot, a long erect stem called a seta with a capsule at the top which contains the maturing spores. A peaked hood called a calyptra sits atop the capsule. A single sporophyte may contain anywhere between four and one million spores depending on the individual species. It's the sporophyte structures that are prominent in these pictures … these ones are about 15mm tall.
Not that I initially set out to craft a post on moss reproduction this morning but I thought it may … you know … add something to your experience if you knew vaguely what you were looking at. Besides I find it fascinating and it is Spring after all.
You may also notice I'm using a new gallery technique to disply the pictures … like it? Do let me know ๐
Which goes some way to explaining (or perhaps not) why I find moss such a sensuous thing…
Oh yeah … definitely sensuous stuff. I think ferns have motile sperm too … think about it … plants that swim ๐
i like it. and i like the moss' colors. and i like some facts accompanying the pictures. here in austria fall is slowly arriving ๐
Cheers ๐
I’ve long been fascinated by mosses and ferns … amongst other things of course! All the blossoms are out here and it’s 23ยฐC today and cloudless with a gentle breezeย … perfect ๐
i can understand that!
well, that kind of weather hasn't showed up here in, umm.. years ๐
Well you’ll just have to travel somewhere where it shows up regularly … and with climate change that may very well be where you are now ๐
i fear climate changed and for that reason we don't have those temperatures here anymore ๐
i would love to travel but the amount of possible days off shrinks and shrinks ๐
I know … the number does seem to shrink doesn’t it! Just have to make those remaining days count … a lesson for life itself perhaps? ๐
that, for sure. but only 11 days until june 2014. and i'm longing for time for myself.
That’s not very many days! Hard to know whether to take them all in one hit or sprinkle and fritter them ๐
The image of the leaf floating about the tiny shoots has an ethereal quality. Mother Nature strutting her precious palette and whimsy.
Thanks Sally ๐
The leaf as garland perhaps?
Oh, Geoff, what interesting stuff you have imparted. The sight looks great. Keep up the good work, Mari
Thanks Mari … an informative post for once instead of the usual decorative one ๐
I really love the color in your pictures!
Greetings to ya, Consuela
Thanks Consuela and right back at you! You may have noticed I’m a big fan fan of deep colour … glad you like it too ๐
Me, too Geoffrey ๐
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Mmmmhhh, you talking science…I like that though I sort of expected different words accompanying the pictures. Maybe that's just my fantasy drifting off and it surely is not spring here. Oh well…
I totally love the whole series, the colours and the light are so beautiful,especially in the first and the last picture. Also like those because of the contrast between the tiny, soft structures of the moss and the dark wood or stone. Very sexy indeed.
I've played some with this tiled gallery style a while but don't really want to use galleries in my blog. It does look good though.
You know, I played around with some pretty words for this one but these were the ones that came out … not only poured but felt right too so I went with them. The features you see are stone … darkish granites to be exact ๐
Cheers for the feedback on the tiled gallery too … appreciate it ๐
you learn something new every day. today it's thanks to you. great photos, too…. ๐
Well, I do like to fantasize about educating my audience so thank you ๐
Wow, what a beautiful set of images! I love the shallow depth of field, the use of strong colours and your amazing bokeh. It feels like visiting a fabulous, alien world. Many compliments on the photography and wonderful words to go with it.
Hey Martina! thank you and it’s so lovely to see you back … I’ve missed your gorgeous pictures ๐
Love the colours in these images. They all transcend a deeper connection. Beautiful!
Thank you Otto … your visits are always appreciated ๐