Common wisdom says that moss grows only on the north side of trees, which means you can use it to find your bearings if you’re lost in the woods. This is generally true, says Caitlin Fong, an ecologist at California State University in Northridge. To thrive, moss requires damp and shady environments that prevent it from drying out. And as you move north, away from the equator, the sun’s rays strike Earth at a southern angle rather than directly overhead, so the north side of an object will receive less sunlight.
http://www.popsci.com/can-i-use-moss-to-navigate
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