It will, however, grow on most trees if the conditions are right. Spanish moss tends to prefer two common southern trees: live oaks and bald cypress. Once there the plant will continue to propagate vegetatively. Also, portions of growing Spanish moss are carried off by the wind or birds to a new tree. Seeds are structured so that they are easily caught by the wind and land in the bark of new trees. Spanish moss spreads to new locations through various methods. Pups are small copies of the plant that grow from an original. Spanish moss reproduces in two ways: through seed and, like many other bromeliads, by producing pups. 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. The individual plants cling to one another creating huge structures that hang from trees. Each individual Tillandsia usneoides is at most 6 cm long and 1 mm wide. Instead, Spanish moss uses tiny scales on its leaves and its curved structure to cling to its host tree. Many epiphytes have roots that anchor them to their host tree. However, unlike most epiphytic Tillandsia which have roots that act as anchors, Spanish moss does not have any roots at all. Spanish moss belongs to the Tillandsia genus of bromeliads. It is a tiny epiphyte that clings to itself as it dangles from tree limbs, gulping moisture from the air. Locally know as “Spanish Moss” this plant has no relation to the moss family.

If you live in or have visited the southern regions of the United States, Central America or South America you have seen the thick, drooping, grey “hair” that hangs from so many grand trees in the region.

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