Spanish moss is neither Spanish nor moss. It is named because it resembles a beard lichen
of the same name, but it isn't a lichen either. It is an epiphyte—a plant that grows on other plants without
actively parasitizing them. It is also called an air plant because it derives its water and nutritional needs
directly from the air (well, sort of ... see below). Although Spanish moss doesn't directly harm its host trees, it competes with them
for sunlight, thus slowing their growth, so the distinction between epiphyte and parasite is somewhat blurred.
Spanish moss used to be processed into "horsehair," which was used to stuff furniture, car upholstery, and mattresses.
Identification: Spanish moss is gray-green or gray-blue in color, growing
in large twisting masses that resemble flowing beards, hanging from branches in lengths up to 20′ (6 m).
It is especially common on oak and cypress trees. Slender stems have alternate, curving, scaly leaflets
¾-2″ (2-6 cm) long and only 1/32″ (1 mm) around. There are no roots and the flowers are
almost invisible. Spanish moss often contains chiggers and various other small life forms, so careful
handling doesn't hurt.
Spanish moss looks very similar not only to its namesake, California Spanish moss, but to other beard
lichens. But Spanish moss grows in hot, humid environments in southeastern North America. Beard lichens prefer cool
humid climates such as the Pacific Northwest and New England.
Growing in Thin Air
It's a surprising realization. How can a plant grow without access to soil nutrients? Sure, sunlight is a big part of the answer, and so is water, as with all plants. Photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide from the air into usable energy for the plant, and rain water is woven into the structure of the plant cells and serves to transport nutrients and energy. Spanish moss lacks the roots most plants use to absorb water, but its foliage has evolved scales that trap and hold water until much of it is absorbed. But where do the trace elements normally found in soil come from? Spanish moss needs a lot of calcium and varying amounts of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and other elements. Some of these nutrients come dissolved in the rainwater, or are present as atmospheric dust, but not enough. This is easily proven because Spanish moss won't grow just anywhere. It is most abundant on oak and cypress trees, near water, in soil that is high in calcium.
Why should the soil matter? Because the “moss” is getting most of its nutrients from the soil ... indirectly. Through a process called foliar leaching, rainwater washes some of the nutrients out of the tree leaves, and Spanish moss has evolved to trap it. The plant favors oak and bald cypress because they leach more nutrients than most other trees. So Spanish moss and other epiphytes depend on their hosts for access to sunlight and for their nutrients.
On southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) · 4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 7 × 10″ (16 × 25 cm)
10/19/2011 · Marrero, Louisiana · By Heather A. Kent
On southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) · 4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida
10/19/2011 · Marrero, Louisiana · By Heather A. Kent
Dendropogon usneoides (L.)Raf.
Renealmia usneoides L.
Tillandsia usneoides description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
10/19/2011 · Marrero, Louisiana · By Heather A. Kent
On southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) · 4/11/2015 · Big Cypress Bend, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Florida
On southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) · 4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida
On southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) · 4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 6 × 9″ (16 × 23 cm)
10/19/2011 · Marrero, Louisiana · By Heather A. Kent