Moss Ferns Lichen

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Echeveria Sea Dragon by Renee O'Connell

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Rheum nobile, aka the Sikkim rhubarb or noble rhubarb, is a giant herbaceous plant native to the Himalaya, from northeastern Afghanistan, east through northern Pakistan and India, Nepal, Sikkim (in India), Bhutan, and Tibet to Myanmar, occurring in the alpine zone at 4000–4800 m altitude.

At 1–2 m tall, it towers above the other shrubs and low herbs in its habitat, and it is visible across valleys a mile away.

R. nobile is often called a glasshouse plant because of its outer curtain of translucent leaves which pass visible light, creating a greenhouse effect, while blocking ultraviolet radiation. These are likely defenses against the increased UV-B exposure and extreme cold in its high altitude range.

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Dicranum japonicum: Hulunbei’er Mongolia, China; July 12, 2010; Li Zhang

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Dicranoweisia crispula: Utah, USA; Aug 2004; Photo by Li Zhang

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Dicranella cf. coarctata: Macau, China; July 1, 2008; Bi Li Zhang

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Dendroalsia abietiana: On a tree trunk in the Purisima Creek Redwoods, California; June 6, 2009; By Li Zhang

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Crumia latifolia: On dry, exposed metamorphic rock in Yosemite National Park, California; June 7, 2009; By Li Zhang 

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Dry moss coming back to life