Tissues absorb nitrogen: haircap moss

The shoots of haircap moss obtain nitrogen from soil via water-conducting tissues called hydroids.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

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Biomimetic Application Ideas

Nitrogen sequestration and utilization; methods to increase crop health by mimicking moss mechanism of nitrogen uptake and utilization.

[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Polytrichum alpinum [Polytrichastrum alpinum] (class Polytrichospida) is predominantly endohydric, transporting water up from underlying substrate by means of water-conducting hydroids (Longton 1988; Buck & Goffinet 2000), whereas Racomitrium lanuginosum (class Bryopsida) is ectohydric and mostly absorbs water from precipitation (Proctor 1982; Buck & Goffinet 2000)." (Ayres et al. 2006:286)

About the inspiring organism

Polytrichastrum alpinum
Polytrichastrum alpinum G. L. Smith, 1971
[Alpine polytrichastrum moss, haircap moss]

IUCN Red List Status: Unknown

Some organism data provided by: MOST: Moss TROPICOS Database
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Nitrogen sequestration and utilization; methods to increase crop health by mimicking moss mechanism of nitrogen uptake and utilization.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Agriculture, ecosystem research

Experts

Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Ed Ayres
Colorado State University

References

Ayres, E.; van der Wal, R.; Sommerkorn, M.; Bardgett, R.D. 2006. Direct uptake of soil nitrogen by mosses. Biology Letters. 2: 286-288.

Tissues absorb nitrogen: haircap moss

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