More on the destruction at the Democratic Headquarters

I see that as part of the take over of the Cornerstone Building the Democrats decided to destroy all of the lovely mosses that were growing on the sign post.  Perhaps not a big deal, but there was some really neat moss there.  Both Syntrichia rualis (a model species for desiccation tolerance) and Grimmia pulvinata used to grow on the top of the sign.  Moss, like other plants, fixes atmospheric carbon and helps to fight global warming.  These two unique mosses thrive in very harsh urban environments and are pollution tolerant.

  The moss added a nice aged look to the building.  I used to enjoy walking by and looking at all the lovely moss with my hand lens as I shopped in the area.  Now all there is to look at is this.

Oh what a beautiful sign!

Here is a microscopic picture of Syntrichia rualis growing on the cement retaining wall in front of the Jr. High apartments: 



Pappilose cells of Syntrichia ruralis common British name "Great Hairy Screw-moss "

 

Here is a picture of Grimmia pulvinata from the same place

Slightly sinuose cells of Grimmia pulvinata

Here is a close up macroscopic picture of the  Syntrichia ruralis that used to grow on this sign post:

This lovely Syntrichia ruralis moss is now dead
Drought and dessication tolerance of S. ruralis has been studied
extensively in order to determine if similar physiological mechanisms
will improve drought resistance of commercial crops S.
ruralis can be dried to less than 20 percent of its original fresh
weight and will immediately resume protein synthesis upon rehydration
Metabolic activities will resume even after 70 years of
dessication.
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/bryophyte/torrur/all.html

This lovely Grimmia pulvinata cushion is now dead

This post was covered in the above mosses