Spanish moss what is it

The individual plants cling to one another creating huge structures that hang from trees. The flowers on each plant are minuscule, however, on large growths of spanish moss they can create a noticeable fragrance at night, during late spring and early summer. Spanish moss reproduces in two ways: through seed and, like many other bromeliads, by producing pups. Pups are small copies of the plant that grow from an original. Spanish moss spreads to new locations through various methods.

Seeds are structured so that they are easily caught by the wind and land in the bark of new trees. Also, portions of growing Spanish moss are carried off by the wind or birds to a new tree. Once there the plant will continue to propagate vegetatively. Spanish moss tends to prefer two common southern trees: live oaks and bald cypress. It will, however, grow on most trees if the conditions are right. Spanish moss is not parasitic and therefore does not harm the trees directly.

The plant obtains its own nutrients. But large growths of Spanish moss can block out the sun and hinder photosynthesis in the leaves of host tree occasionally causing minor damage. Spanish moss can hold significant amounts of water and becomes very heavy when wet.

This can also lead to damage and broken limbs. Spanish moss prefers warm climates with high humidity. Humidity and rain are essential for the plant to be able to grow. Spanish moss has special scales found on its leaves,called trichomes that help it take in water and other nutrients. Nutrients are absorbed from the air and even at times from the matter found on the surfaces of the leaves that the spanish moss covers.

Because it so easily absorbs material from the air, Spanish moss is susceptible to damage from pollution. It can also be tested to identify what pollutants are found in a specific area. Spanish moss is very important for biodiversity. Its large mats that drip from trees harbor a great variety of insects, birds, three species of bats, frogs, lizards, snakes and more. Yellow-throated warblers and northern parulas make their nests within mats of Spanish moss during the spring and summer.

There is one species of spider that can only be found living in Spanish moss. It is called Pelegrina tillandsia, named after its home. Spanish moss can sometimes house chiggers especially when close to the ground so take extra care when handling. Spanish moss has a variety of human uses and at one time was harvested and ginned commercially.

The peak of the commercial harvest of Spanish moss may have come in the late s. Through a specific curing and ginning process the outer grey bark was removed and the remaining filaments were used for upholstery in cars, furniture and mattresses. The seeds of the moss have feathery appendages like dandelion seeds. This allows them to float through the air until they land on a good spot to grow: another tree. Spanish moss is more likely to propagate by fragmented pieces of plant called festoons.

When a festoon is broken off and carried off by wind or birds using it for nest material , it will begin to grow into a full plant if it lands in an acceptable place. But it has a great number of other uses. Native American women used it for dresses in the past. It can be used as an arbor roof or to hang over a chain-link fence for privacy, but since it will only live in trees, you have to replenish the supply as the moss dies.

American colonists mixed Spanish moss with mud to make mortar for their houses—some of which are still standing strong. Dried moss makes good tinder for fires, and you can make it into blankets, rope, and mattress filling. Mattresses filled with Spanish moss are noted for staying cool on a warm summer night.

Because it soaks up and retains water, it is also used for garden mulch. Many kinds of wildlife take advantage of Spanish moss. Birds use it to build nests. Frogs and spiders live in it. Most bromeliads, including Spanish moss, are epiphytes. Epiphytes grow on other plants, but do not rely on them for nutrients. They take nutrients from the air and debris that collects on the plant. Spanish moss prefers moist environments, but its ability to trap water lets it survive dry periods.

The plant can also go dormant until moisture conditions improveSpanish moss does not have any roots. It attaches to substrates by wrapping its stems around a surface. Also, it does not need roots for water and nutrient uptake, since all parts of Spanish moss have that ability.

Spanish moss is commonly found on oak and cypress trees, but can grow on other plants as well.