Spanish Moss

• Description: Spanish moss hanging from the trees in Maclay Gardens. Spanish moss is not actually a moss, but is rather a flowering epiphyte that grows within trees, although its flowers are very small. As an epiphyte, it grows while attached to a host tree. Spanish moss usually does not kill or harm its host, but it can block sunlight to the tree decreasing its growth rate. The plant is also home to many living things including snakes, bats, and spiders and has been used by humans for medicinal and practical purposes such as in the making of beds. It can be found in warm, humid areas from the southeastern United States to Argentina.
• Keywords: moss, Spanish moss, tree, Maclay Gardens
• TIFF File: A high resolution TIFF of Spanish Moss (28.9 Mb) is available for download. This is a very large file suitable for printing. For most on-screen purposes, you should use the image displayed on this page instead of this TIFF.
• Source: Florida Center for Instructional Technology, Exploring Florida: Social Studies Resources for Students and Teachers (Tampa, FL: University of South Florida, 2009)

• County: Leon
• Location:

• Date of Photo: 4/1/2007
• Photographer: Roy Winkelman

Exploring Florida: A Social Studies Resource for Students and Teachers

Produced by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology

College of Education, University of South Florida © 2009.