How to Compare Mosses & Ferns

Ferns are some of the oldest living plants on the planet, and more than 12,000 different fern species have been noted. Ferns are vascular plants, which means that moisture and nutrients are absorbed by the roots. Mosses are also ancient plants that have leaflike structures and rootlike rhizoids; however, they are not true leaves and roots, as mosses have no vascular system and must absorb moisture directly from the soil. There are 14,500 different species of mosses. Ferns and mosses that were part of the environment 350 million years ago are the major components of coal, a fossil fuel.

Plant identification guidebook

Instructions

- 1
  Note the natural habitat of ferns and mosses. They both grow in all parts of the world with the exception of subarctic locations in Antarctica. Ferns and mosses can be found in tropical, moist environments and in drier locations at altitudes that exceed 7,500 feet. They can be found growing attached to rock outcroppings or living in the organic material of the forest floor.
- 2
  
  Moss grows very close to the ground.
  
  Examine the leaves. Mosses have tiny leaflike structures, but are not true leaves as they have no vascular system. Ferns are vascular in nature; the stems of ferns transport water and nutrients to the compound frond, which is made up of many leaflets. Fern fronds can be only a few inches in length, or in the case of tree ferns, may grow in excess of 12 feet in length.
- 3
  
  Many species of fern present brilliant fall foliage.
  
  Look for spores on the underside of leaves. Ferns and mosses both propagate by spores. Spores are the plants' reproductive organs and appear as dots on the underside of leaves; the spores are as fine as dust. When the spores ripen they are carried by the wind and rain to new growing locations. Fern spore spots may be black, brown or a golden yellow, depending on the species of fern. Moss spore spots are so tiny they normally cannot be seen by the naked eye.
- 4
  Compare the root systems of ferns and mosses. Some ferns, such as staghorn ferns, grow attached to tree trunks, branches and rocks. They obtain nutrients from materials that are washed onto their roots. Other ferns such as Christmas fFern (Polystichum acrostichoides) grow from rhizomes that spread under the soil. The Christmas fern is often used in floral arrangements. The fronds are 2 to 3 feet long. Moss stems and roots are very fragile. Mosses also spread from false rhizomes that spread under the soil. Most mosses have a reddish-colored stem that is difficult to see without a magnifying glass. The relative sizes of ferns and mosses are one the biggest distinctions between the two.
- 5
  Consult a fern and moss identification guide book or online plant database to help distinguish the difference between the two types of plants. To help identify local mosses and ferns, take a sample to your county extension agent. Guide books can be found at public libraries and bookstores as well as online.

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