jamieshea2
Spanish moss
I took this photo today at Hugh MacRae Park around 7pm. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is a beautiful and very unique plant. It is not even a moss, it is actually apart of the same family as a pineapple. It does not have a root system and grows on the surface of other plants for support. I have always thought that Spanish moss had a parasitic relationship with the trees it grows on (usually oak or cypress trees). There is no need for the Spanish moss to grow into the host tree because it can perform photosynthesis independently. It uses the sunlight to make energy and it flourishes on fog, rain, and debris. Since the Spanish moss benefits from draping over other plants and the plants are neither harmed nor benefited, it is considered a commensalism symbiotic relationship.
Sources:
www.reference.com/science/relationship-between-spanish-mo...
mentalfloss.com/article/67807/10-things-you-should-know-a...
Spanish moss
I took this photo today at Hugh MacRae Park around 7pm. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is a beautiful and very unique plant. It is not even a moss, it is actually apart of the same family as a pineapple. It does not have a root system and grows on the surface of other plants for support. I have always thought that Spanish moss had a parasitic relationship with the trees it grows on (usually oak or cypress trees). There is no need for the Spanish moss to grow into the host tree because it can perform photosynthesis independently. It uses the sunlight to make energy and it flourishes on fog, rain, and debris. Since the Spanish moss benefits from draping over other plants and the plants are neither harmed nor benefited, it is considered a commensalism symbiotic relationship.
Sources:
www.reference.com/science/relationship-between-spanish-mo...
mentalfloss.com/article/67807/10-things-you-should-know-a...