Tillandsia usneoides

If you have ever walked under large trees in the southeast United States, chances are you encountered slender blue-gray steamers hanging from the tree’s branches. Commonly called Spanish Moss, this interesting plant is neither Spanish nor a moss! It is a bromeliad, a species of flowering plant in the same family as pineapples. Unlike many plants, Spanish moss does not have a true root system, instead capturing moisture and nutrients from the air around it. While not parasitic, the plant does depend on larger trees for support, making it an epiphyte, or plant that grows on top of other structures and organisms. The plant has an important role to play for many species of animal and insects, providing a home and food source. The Northern Parula, a small yellow and grey bird, constructs its nest in the tendrils of moss that hang from tall trees. Humans have even used the plant to cushion our lives, placing it into pillows, mattresses, and automobile cushions. In fact, the first ever automobile recall was on Ford Model T’s. The cushions were stuffed with Spanish moss for padding. When owners reported insect bites, the culprit was determined to be red bugs, a small biting insect that often resides in Spanish moss. For this reason, it is not recommended to collect moss from trees. It may have hitch hikers!