What is Sea moss?

[Jan Bosselaers]

Dear Börge,

> What is Sea Moss that is used by railway model builders to make trees? I
> believe that Irish Moss is another name for the same material.
> Many thanks in advance for any hint.

Often they sell Lichens like Cladonia spp. for the purpose, but when it
is called "Sea Moss" I guess it may be a Bryozoan, or more probably
still a hydroid polyp like Sertularia sp. (e.g. Sertularia abietina).
Collins Pocket Guide to the Sea shore says about Sertularia: "dried and
stained and sold for decorative purposes" Well, decorative is open to
debate, judging from some applications I saw in shop windows.

Cheers,

Jan
--------------------------------------------------------------
Jan Bosselaers
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"Aging is a disease, and I hate it" Christian Barnard