Spanish moss hangs from a lot of trees in the southeast part of the United States. But it isn’t really moss. It is an air plant, which means that it gets all its nourishment from the air and from rainfall. Where we are vacationing here in the St. Augustine area, Spanish moss hangs in many trees. We primarily associate Spanish moss with oak trees, but it is also hanging in some of our holly trees and others.
When settlers first encountered Spanish moss, they thought it would be helpful as stuffing for their mattresses. They quickly found out that was not a good idea. Little mites that hang out in the moss ventured out to bite them. Like tiny spiders, they did no lasting harm, but irritated their skin and caused an unexpected itchy skin.
What is an air plant? It is a plant that gathers all its nutrition from the air. It does not depend on the tree for nourishment, so it does not damage the tree. It is not parasitic. In my painting of Spanish Moss (Tilandsia usneoides) the air plant hangs down in a whitish gray curtain from the oak tree.
Next to it there on the top of the live oak branch is another air plant (Tilandsia recurvata), which is also not parasitic. This one just perches on the branch. Occasionally the air plants become so heavy they may cause some stress on the trees, but they get all their food and water from the air and rain.
What is a “live” oak (Quercus virginiana)? This oak does not lose its leaves until spring, so it has been called a “live oak,” because it holds its leaves all winter. Notice that the leaf does not have the usual lobes that we associate with northern oak trees. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t look at all like a usual oak leaf, and it is leathery in texture. It’s very well suited to the hot sun in the southeastern U.S. Holly trees also hold Spanish moss successfully.
Together the sturdy trees and the hanging Spanish moss create an exotic atmosphere, and provide welcome shade in the hot summer. It is a reminder to northern tourists that we have entered a new and different environment.
