Why mosses are superheroes of the plant world

Vilified as the scourge of perfect lawns, these tiny plants fight air pollution and keep soils healthy

Mosses are tiny plants often ignored or treated as the scourge of perfect lawns, and yet they are superheroes of the plant world. They help fight air pollution and the climate crisis, keep soils healthy, colonise bare ground paving the way for other plants to grow, and can survive harsh environments ranging from deserts to polar regions.

They lack proper roots and absorb all their nourishment like sponges through their leaves, which makes them particularly good at feeding on pollutants and fine particles of dust in the air. They soak up to 20 times their own weight in water, and when this evaporates it cools the surrounding air by up to 2C.