[hinkley]

There are stories that the moss on trees in temperate rainforests allow the tree to pull water from their branches instead of the ground, increasing their max height.

For a while there were people poaching the moss that facilitated this, which is a problem because it grows only inches per year.

[ryanmcbride]

God that's sad. We really can't have anything nice.

[hinkley]

It’s harder to remove the moss from high up in the tree and there are more risks in doing so. I was never clear on how prevalent this shittery was.

[card_zero]

Who wants moss!? Is it luxury moss?

[hinkley]

When peeled off the trunk it comes off in sheets, which is a bit harder to accomplish than just creating tufts and blobs of moss.

[lazide]

Yes, for terrariums

[RetroTechie]

And leaves can absorb moisture from water droplets on their leaves. Like from rain or foggy sea winds. Why go through a transport system when the water is right where it's needed?

[rolph]

water isnt all thats needed, solutes mined from soil, by the root system are required by the entire plant.

Water and solute movement in plants:

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/anatomy-and-physiolo...

there is a disconnect between the roots and the xylem, its not a throughway, there is a switchover.

Plant Roots and Mineral Nutrition: An Overview of Molecular Basis of Uptake and Regulation, and Strategies to Improve Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE)

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-15-9380-2_...