Access
This article is part of Nature's premium content.
Published online 31 January 2005 | Nature | doi:10.1038/050131-1
News
Mossy spirals reveal primitive patterns
Plants rescued from space-shuttle wreckage are generating results.
Samples of moss aboard the doomed space shuttle Columbia have survived to reveal an unusual growth pattern that gives clues to the plant's evolutionary history.
Samples of common roof moss (Ceratodon purpureus) grown in darkened containers on the shuttle put out wispy fronds in clockwise spirals.
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
Comments
Reader comments are usually moderated after posting. If you find something offensive or inappropriate, you can speed this process by clicking 'Report this comment' (or, if that doesn't work for you, email redesign@nature.com). For more controversial topics, we reserve the right to moderate before comments are published.