moss on trees

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From: SOXYTHECAT@aol.com
Date: Sun Aug 18 2002 - 14:38:32 PDT 

From: SOXYTHECAT@aol.com
Message-ID: <18a.ca28b2f.2a916dd8@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Aug 2002 17:38:32 EDT
Subject: moss on trees

Hello.

I have always heard that moss tends to grow on the north side of trees and
that --when lost in the woods on a cloudy day-- one can use this pattern as a
navigational tool. Has anyone else heard this?

I always though it was a really great piece of information to be able to pass
on to students: an easily recognizable pattern that could get them jump
started on the process of looking for patterns in nature. The trouble is,
I've never really seen the pattern regularly out in the woods.

I'm really interested in how engaging and helpful pieces of information can
get picked up and passed along even if they may be inaccurate. (Maybe the
moss idea IS true on average over large areas, but it doesn't seem to be a
really obvious pattern in the places i've been... as part of a (really
excellent*) week long field methods class I just did a mini-study of moss
patch aspect I haven't analyzed my results yet but they are not looking good
for north.)

hmmmm.
Thanks,
Regan

** For any northe east teachers out there, the class is called "practical
method for fiedl ecologists", bot 295, and its taught by Jeffrey Hughes from
the university of vermont. It's taught in the notthe east kingdom of vt for
one week each august.

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