Spanish Moss is not a moss at all — it is a bromeliad that drapes itself in silvery-gray curtains from trees throughout the American South. It has no roots and absorbs all water and nutrients directly from the air through tiny scales on its leaves. Far from being parasitic, it provides critical nesting habitat for warblers, bats, and insects, and was historically used for stuffing furniture and mattresses.
Habitat
Coastal plains and river swamps of the southeastern United States; hangs from oaks, cypresses, and other trees
Diet
Not browsed; provides nesting sites for northern parulas and other birds
How common
Common
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