Spanish Moss Habitat

Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) grows on the limbs and branches of large trees, but this common plant that grows from the Southern United States to Argentina is not parasitic; it merely depends on the sturdy plant for a place to live. Limited to warm climates with high humidity, Spanish moss is one of the more fascinating members of the plant kingdom.

Epiphyte

Spanish moss is classified as an epiphyte, which means it is capable of absorbing nutrients and water from the air. This hanging plant is part of the Bromeliaceae--or the bromeliads, as the family is commonly called. The bromeliad description refers to the flower structure and not the fact that it is a hanging plant.

Moisture Requirements

Spanish moss thrives in places where the temperatures are warm and, most important, where the humidity is always high. It is rare to find the Spanish moss far from a major body of water.

Rain of Nutrients

The tree in which a Spanish moss plant lives may provide extra water and nutrients to the flowering plant by runoff water that flows from the upper branches. This would be considered a secondary source of water and nutrients, aside from the atmosphere.

Habitat Inside a Clump of Spanish Moss

Spanish moss forms a microclimate within the dense mass of leaves and stems that can be a microhabitat all its own. Here may live a host of animals and insects, including snakes, rodents, insects, spiders and even bats.

Wind Resistance

Large amounts of Spanish moss in a tree can add to the wind resistance of the host plant. During an intense tropical storm, such as a hurricane, the combination of moss and tree can create a situation in which the plant is more susceptible to wind damage, thus destroying the tree along with the moss.

References

• Florida Forest Plants
• About Spanish Moss

Resources

• Spanish Moss for Gardeners