Since the color of the "leafy stems" in this image is gray anyway, my black-and-white month of February seems an appropriate time to present an apparently-oft-misunderstood plant, “Tillandsia usneoides,” better known by its common name of “Spanish moss.”
From the Missouri Botanical Garden,
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=f427 »
“The origin of the common name of Spanish moss is unclear. Notwithstanding its common name, it is not a true moss and it is not native to Spain. French settlers in the southeastern U.S. in the 1700s called this plant Barbe Espagnol (Spanish beard) in reference to the long beards often worn by Spanish explorers of that time. Several legends suggest that the name Spanish moss is simply a refinement on than [sic] French name.
“Genus name honors Elias Til-Landz (1640-1693), Swedish physician and botanist.
“Specific epithet comes from usnea (a tree epiphyte) and oides (resembling).
“… Plants rarely flower and fruit in cultivation. Spanish moss was once commercially harvested for use as a stuffing (about 20 million pounds were used in 1937 for stuffing car seats, mattresses and furniture) and as packing material. Additional uses have included floor mats, insulation and mulch. Current uses are much more restricted (thanks in part to the development of synthetic materials), and include arts and crafts, floral arrangements and garden ornament or mulch.”
From the Clemson University (Clemson, SC) Cooperative Extension,
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/plant_problems/hgic2354.html »
“Spanish moss … is one of the most misunderstood plants found throughout the Deep South. To native South Carolinians, these gray strands draping from the branches of live oaks and other trees are a natural part of the scenery, while many newcomers fear that it may be killing their trees.
“Contrary to popular belief, Spanish moss causes little to no detrimental effect on a host tree. It may appear to have roots growing within the host tree, but it is an epiphyte. Epiphytes grow on other plants without taking any water or nutrients from them, and use the host plant for support and protection.
“Spanish moss can be seen hanging from many different types of hosts, including pecans, oaks, pines, and even telephone lines. Spanish moss is most evident in trees that are declining due to some other reason. Heavy infestations can lead to further decline by shading out the lower leaves of the tree. It is far too often that homeowners waste a lot of time and energy trying to remove it from their trees, since it is actually causing no harm.
“Treatment: Spanish moss is too often blamed for problems that are caused by other reasons. Increasing tree vigor by proper watering and fertilization is one way to restrict the growth of Spanish moss. There are no chemical treatments available for its control. This small native plant should be appreciated as a part of South Carolina's natural heritage and not blamed as the cause of other plants' problems.”
Species page at PhytoImages,
http://phytoimages.siu.edu/taxpage/0/0/79/binomial/Tillandsia%20usneoides.html
Photo taken at SIUC Plant Biology Greenhouse,
http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/facilities/plant-biology-facilities/greenhouse/index.php
1 year ago (“Never saw this before!”):
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2014-02-04
2 years ago (“Pathways of life: Nature’s botanical ‘mother board’?”):
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-02-04
3 years ago (“Entertaining in a different style”):
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-02-04
4 years ago (“Desperation”):
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-02-04
[ IMG_9674S9x12tmG :: 1/320" :: f/2.8 :: ISO 100 ]
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