Spanish moss is a member of the Pineapple family (Bromeliaceae). Botanically
known as Tillandsia usneoides. Tillandsia is the largest division of the
Bromeliads, and this is one of the oddest in the genus. It has no roots in
most forms (I have seen one form with roots) and grows by its recurved leaves
snagging a foothold on a branch or bark, which soon froms a hanging,
beardlike tangled mass. It rarely flowers or sets seed, or at least the
flowers are green, tiny and not noticed, and it seems to reproduce from
fragmentation. It grows from southern S. America to coastal N. Carolina in N.
America. It it often thought of as a parasite that kills trees but is a true
epiphyte taking nothing from its host tree except a spot to hang from. Like
CP it has an odd beauty. The south wouldn't be the same without it.
Kudzu is another matter, an introduced vine from Asia (Japan or China?) it
was brought in for erosion control of steep banks and livestock fodder. It
has pretty flowers and leaves but if there is a faster growing pest plant
someone let me know. It must grow several feet a day, and has covered whole
forest around Atlanta, Birmingham and probabaly anywhere else unlucky enough
to have it. I believe it produces tubers and roots where the vine touches the
ground. There is one vine here in Daytona but thankfully there is a river and
several roads between me and it.
Bumper sticker seen in Georgia: Kudzu Get You.
Cliff