Dried moss on basalt in Moses Coulee.

Mosses are most abundant in humid, temperate areas, but they are also important in deserts and arid lands. The are around 14,500 species world wide. Most plants are vascular, meaning they have xylem and phloem which transports nutrients, water and energy. Mosses are non-vascular, and depend on outside moisture to transport nutrients. Mosses are an important component in biological soil crusts in deserts, and pioneer new habitats on rocks. They help to accumulate particles wind blown sediments, and stablize existing soil.They can survive drought by drying out completely, and remain dormant until the next rainfall.