Desiccated Moss in the Mojave (IMAGE) University of California - Berkeley Caption The moss Syntrichia caninervis looks dark brown-black when growing in the summer sun of the Mojave because of pigments that presumably act as UV sunscreens. In the lab, with no UV light, the moss is green and unpigmented. Credit Jenna Ekwealor, UC Berkeley Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.