The Many Names Of Spanish Moss

South Carolina, from a landscape perspective, is like no other area of the United States. The flora and fauna here are drastically different than ecosystems found just a few hundred miles away. One of the most striking examples that spring to mind is a plant that drapes itself over certain indigenous trees. It summons majestic imagery of the quintessential deep south. The many names of Spanish moss make it an extremely interesting topic, which is why this blog has been written!

"Spanish Moss" (Tillandsia usneoides) is not actually a moss at all. It's classified as an "epiphyte" or more commonly known as an "Air Plant" and is related to the pineapple through the Bromelaid family. At first glance, this silvery to green drapery appears to be killing its host tree when nothing could be further from the truth. Observing broken branches adorning the ground underneath points to this conclusion when in reality it's acting as a natural pruning effect.

"Old Man's Beard" as it is sometimes called, gets it's nutrients from dust in the air,fog, dew, and rain. As it absorbs moisture, it's color changes from silvery to grey / green and quickly gains weight. This change in mass breaks weaker branches from its host tree and allows that tree's energy to be directed toward strengthening more substantial limbs. In essence making a much stronger durable tree.

"Wool Crape" (another commonly used name) attaches itself only to certain species of trees. Crape Myrtles, where it got this particular moniker, are a primary growing host but is commonly seen adorning others such as live Oaks, Sweet Gum, as well as the Bald Cypress tree. It appears in moist humid areas near coastal rivers, estuaries, and swamps. Thriving in subtropical climates with temperatures above 60 degrees (F), it indicates healthy ecosystems as it is intollarant to pollution. So if you spot some Spanish Moss, you can breathe easy.

"Grandfather's Whiskers (yet another name it is known by) is fairly widespread, geographically speaking. It has been reported as far north as the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia but doesn't thrive like in it's strongest appearance in South Carolina, which seems to be its "sweet spot". This perennial plant can be observed commonly in Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, to Southern Alabama but can be found in different quantities from all southeastern states and ranges from Texas to Virginia as well in other countries - Mexico, South and Central Americas, Bermuda and the Bahamas.

"Long Moss", (how many names can the same plant have?!) has no defined lifespan even indefinite. It is a resilient species that can survive long droughts with the only outward effect being a color change from green to silvery- gray, essentially putting itself into a "standby" growth mode. It's appearance of long tendrils covered with scales when closely observed, obviously leads to this particular name. Propagation by seeds produced is a failsafe while its main way of continuing it's species are fragments carried by the wind or animals to neighboring host trees.

A symbiotic relationship has been formed between this air plant and animals including bats, frogs, and spiders. Bird's, mainly Baltimore Orioles and the Yellow Throated Warbler use it for shelter and convenient food sources, and in turn spread seed and fragments to outlaying areas lending to the plants reproduction.