15 Jan 08 Spanish Moss

It’s not Spanish and it’s not moss; it is uniquely American. It’s related to the pineapple. It can be found anywhere from North Carolina to South America.

It’s not a parasite, or poisonous like some folks imagine. It’s actually an epiphyte, which is a  type of plant that has no roots but leaves off the moisture in the air. Small scales trap rain for easier absorbtion and keep the internal moisture in

Nourish comes from the mineral rich cells from the host tree, and for this reason Spanish Moss is often found in abundance on dead or decaying trees where the mineral rich cells are shedding faster.

It doesn’t bear fruit like a pineapple does,  but sometimes produces small yellow flowers. It can grow up to twenty five feet long. It is sometimes used as packing material and upholstery stuffing.

Tags: absorbtion, abundance, bear fruit, cells, epiphyte, five feet, host tree, leaves, north carolina, packing material, parasite, pineapple, rain, roots, scales, south america, spanish moss, trees, upholstery, yellow flowers