This Moss Rocks

Natural Colours

@JudyEv (381739)

Rockingham, Australia

January 4, 2016 8:57pm CST

Vince belongs to several Facebook photo groups. These often have a theme for the day and several days ago the theme was 'rocks'. This photo was taken in the bush out the back of our property. The moss is so colourful I wanted to share it with you. I had to ask nicely if I could use it but Vince knows who washes the dishes – and his socks – so he said I was welcome. PS: It looks much better blown up - just click on it to see it in its full glory. PPS: It's actually lichen rather than moss. We tend to call it moss.

19 people like this

18 responses

@celticeagle (189793)

• Boise, Idaho

5 Jan 16

It looks like coral instead of moss.

3 people like this

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@celticeagle (189793)

• Boise, Idaho

5 Jan 16

@JudyEv ..Yep. Orange coral.

2 people like this

@hereandthere (45628)

• Philippines

5 Jan 16

i thought the same thing!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

I hadn't thought of that but you're (both) right. @celticeagle and @hereandthere

1 person likes this

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@fishtiger58 (29819)

• Momence, Illinois

5 Jan 16

Gorgeous love the orange.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

I was pretty amazed when he came back with the photo although I've seen moss often enough.

1 person likes this

@fishtiger58 (29819)

• Momence, Illinois

5 Jan 16

@JudyEv I am drawn to deep rich colors

1 person likes this

Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (44941)

• Preston, England

5 Jan 16

a very colourful moss - usually associate it with dark green

1 person likes this

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Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (44941)

• Preston, England

5 Jan 16

@JudyEv it is the life form we are most likely to find on other planets apparently

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

@arthurchappell And I've just discovered it is actually lichen rather than moss. Something else I've learnt.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

There are all sorts of moss and lichen apparently. I don't know much about them.

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@GreatMartin (23670)

• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

5 Jan 16

Mother Nature always amazes me with her beauty!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

It's very pretty isn't it for something we take little notice of.

@xFiacre (14782)

• Ireland

5 Jan 16

@judyev While incredibly beautiful it also looks like something nasty growing in a petrie dish!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

Luckily I don't know what a petrie dish is so I can't agree.

I'd like to know what it is though.

@xFiacre (14782)

• Ireland

5 Jan 16

@JudyEv it's where mad scientists grow bacteria and invent new contagions!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

@xFiacre Oh is that all? I have some of them in my fridge.

1 person likes this

Ronald Franklin

@RonElFran (1214)

• Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

5 Jan 16

Those are certainly striking colors. I wonder how many times people walk right by a sight like that and don't even notice.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

Me, for one! And I do try to take notice of what's around.

@yalul070 (1712)

• Manila, Philippines

5 Jan 16

wow!!! right that moss rocks! how come it's orange?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

Wikipedia says 'the colour is generally determined by the photosynthetic component. Special pigments, such as yellow usnic acid, give lichens various colors, especially in exposed, dry habitats'. So it seems it's an acid that gives it its colour.

1 person likes this

@marlina (154103)

• Canada

5 Jan 16

Beautiful shot. Never seen moss of such a color.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

They are not normally quite so bright.

@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

5 Jan 16

This is a wonderful color, it looks like coral. Do you know what transmits to the moss this bright orange color?

1 person likes this

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@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

5 Jan 16

@JudyEv Thank you Judy, very interesting.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

Wikipedia says the colour is generally determined by the photosynthetic component. Special pigments, such as yellow usnic acid, give lichens various colors, especially in exposed, dry habitats, which is what is found here.

1 person likes this

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@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

5 Jan 16

It is much better blown up. It has so much detail. He did a really great job.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

It needs to be blown up, doesn't it?

1 person likes this

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@garymarsh6 (23979)

• United Kingdom

5 Jan 16

It does look very colourful!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 16

We see this a lot on granite outcrops but the orange here is particularly bright.

@boiboing (13147)

• Northampton, England

5 Jan 16

Isn't that lichen rather than moss?

1 person likes this

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@boiboing (13147)

• Northampton, England

5 Jan 16

@JudyEv They are very similar.

1 person likes this

@DianneN (254949)

• United States

5 Jan 16

What a fabulous photo. I have only seen green moss. That should be entered in a contest!!!!!!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

He got a few 'likes' from his FB group.

Rathanasabapathy Sethumanickam

@SRSaba (1128)

• Chennai, India

22 Apr 18

Nice pic!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 18

Thanks. I love the rich colours.

1 person likes this

@Juliaacv (56195)

• Canada

5 Jan 16

I have never seen moss this colour, its pretty.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

It's lovely isn't it? I could have it framed and on the wall quite easily.

1 person likes this

@AbbyGreenhill (45490)

• United States

5 Jan 16

I've only seen green moss, that orange is something!!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

I could easily have the photo hanging on my wall.

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

5 Jan 16

Blew it up. It looks cool. Is moss realted to lichen? I know that some critters eat lichen. Do any eat moss? Heck, maybe lichen is a kind of moss, or vice versa.

1 person likes this

@Shiva49 (28366)

• Singapore

5 Jan 16

Nothing can beat nature, but only few can appreciate the beauty in it, and fewer still to share with others! siva

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 16

It is very pretty isn't it? Thanks for the kind words.

1 person likes this