Spanish moss ( Tillandsia usneoides )

New Hanover Cooperative Extension Al Hight, Director

Spanish moss

Photos of Spanish Moss hanging from Crapemyrtle trees Click to view enlarged images

Mosslike plant which has small flowers and slender, gray stems with tiny leaves that usually hang in long, graceful strands from the branches of trees. Also called Florida moss.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Plantae – Vegetal, plants
Subkingdom	Viridaeplantae – green plants
Infrakingdom	Streptophyta – land plants
Division	Tracheophyta – vascular plants, tracheophytes
Subdivision	Spermatophytina – spermatophytes, seed plants
Infradivision	Angiospermae – flowering plants, angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Lilianae – monocots, monocotyledons
Order	Poales
Family	Bromeliaceae
Genus	Tillandsia L. – air plant, airplant
Species	Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L. – Heno, Spanish moss
Tillandsia usneoides, (L.) L., Taxonomic Serial No.: 42371

 

Photos of Spanish Moss hanging from Crapemyrtle trees Click to view enlarged images

References and Further Reading

Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955

Tillandsia usneoides, (L.) L., Taxonomic Serial No.: 42371

Spanish Moss, Tillandsia usneoides

Zoology Quest: Crapemyrtle