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Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L.

Spanish moss

Native records: 51 botanical areas

Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Alabama, 48 more areas

See all areas

Natural distribution

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NativeIntroducedUncertain

Distribution is shown as WGSRPD Level 3 areas. It does not imply the species occurs throughout an entire area.

Last updated:

Distribution last verified:

See sources

Photograph of Tillandsia usneoides

An epiphytic bromeliad (Bromeliaceae), not a true moss, native from the southeastern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America to Argentina and Chile. It hangs in long, curtain-like grey-green masses from tree branches, sustained entirely by atmospheric moisture and dust trapped through scaly leaf hairs.

Description

A stem-less or nearly stem-less epiphyte whose thread-like, curved leaves form pendulous chains up to 1–2 m long, hanging in masses from host trees and occasionally from wires. The narrow leaves are covered in dense, reflective, grey-white trichomes that absorb water and dissolved nutrients directly from the atmosphere; the roots function only as holdfasts and take up nothing. Small, tubular yellow-green to lilac three-petalled flowers open sporadically from leaf axils. Cold-tolerant and tropical ecotypes are recognised; in the southeastern U.S. its grey curtains draped over live oaks are an iconic image of the landscape. It belongs to the same family as the pineapple and represents an extreme adaptation to the epiphytic, atmospheric life-strategy. It is not a moss: the common name reflects only its moss-like appearance.

Habitat

An epiphyte of lowland to lower montane wet forest, secondary growth, savanna and swamp forest, growing on the branches of trees and occasionally on wires throughout its broad range. Found across southeastern North America, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and tropical and subtropical South America. It favours humid conditions but tolerates intermittent drought thanks to its trichome-based water uptake.

Distribution areas

  • Anguilla

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Antigua and Barbuda

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Argentina

    • Argentina NortheastNative
    • Argentina NorthwestNative

  • Australia

    • QueenslandIntroduced

  • Bahamas

    • BahamasNative

  • Barbados

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Belize

    • BelizeNative

  • Bermuda

    • BermudaNative

  • Bolivia, Plurinational State of

    • BoliviaNative

  • Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Brazil

    • Brazil NortheastNative
    • Brazil SouthNative
    • Brazil SoutheastNative

  • Chile

    • Chile CentralNative
    • Chile NorthNative

  • Colombia

    • ColombiaNative

  • Costa Rica

    • Costa RicaNative

  • Cuba

    • CubaNative

  • Dominica

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Dominican Republic

    • Dominican RepublicNative

  • Ecuador

    • EcuadorNative

  • El Salvador

    • El SalvadorNative

  • French Guiana

    • French GuianaNative

  • French Polynesia

    • Society Is.Introduced

  • Grenada

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Guadeloupe

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Guatemala

    • GuatemalaNative

  • Guyana

    • GuyanaNative

  • Haiti

    • HaitiNative

  • Honduras

    • HondurasNative

  • Jamaica

    • JamaicaNative

  • Martinique

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Mexico

    • Mexico CentralNative
    • Mexico GulfNative
    • Mexico NortheastNative
    • Mexico NorthwestNative
    • Mexico SoutheastNative
    • Mexico SouthwestNative

  • Montserrat

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Nicaragua

    • NicaraguaNative

  • Panama

    • PanamaNative

  • Paraguay

    • ParaguayNative

  • Peru

    • PeruNative

  • Puerto Rico

    • HaitiNative
    • Puerto RicoNative

  • Saint Barthélemy

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Saint Lucia

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Saint Martin (French part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Sint Maarten (Dutch part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Suriname

    • SurinamNative

  • Trinidad and Tobago

    • Trinidad-TobagoNative

  • United States of America

    • AlabamaNative
    • ArkansasNative
    • FloridaNative
    • GeorgiaNative
    • LouisianaNative
    • MississippiNative
    • North CarolinaNative
    • South CarolinaNative
    • TexasNative
    • VirginiaNative

  • Uruguay

    • UruguayNative

  • Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative
    • VenezuelaNative
    • Venezuelan AntillesNative

  • Virgin Islands (British)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Virgin Islands (U.S.)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

Climate of the native range

The Köppen climate classes found in the areas this plant is recorded as native to. It does not mean an entire area has that climate.

  • Cfa Temperate, no dry season, hot summer
  • Aw Tropical, savannah
  • BWk Arid, desert, cold
  • Af Tropical, rainforest
  • Am Tropical, monsoon
  • BSh Arid, steppe, hot
  • Csb Temperate, dry summer, warm summer
  • Cwb Temperate, dry winter, warm summer
  • BWh Arid, desert, hot
  • BSk Arid, steppe, cold
  • Cfb Temperate, no dry season, warm summer
  • ET Polar, tundra
  • Cwa Temperate, dry winter, hot summer

The same climate occurs in 281 areas worldwide, 228 of which have no record of this plant. See them on the map

A matching climate does not mean the plant can grow there. Range limits are also set by things other than climate — dispersal history, soils, competition. Source: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0 (observed period 1991–2020).

Recorded medicinal uses

The cited source records medicinal use of this plant. It is not an assessment of efficacy or safety.

  • Tillandsia usneoides is recorded as used medicinally.

    Source location: p.83, left column, line 18

    World Checklist of Useful Plant Species · Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity (KNB) · CC BY 4.0 · source version: wcups-2020-62602715

    Open source

Other names

Spanish moss、Grandfather's beard、Old man's beard

Family
Bromeliaceae
Genus
Tillandsia

Other species in Tillandsia

Sources

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Anguilla · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Argentina · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Antigua and Barbuda · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Australia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bahamas · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Barthélemy · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Belize · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bermuda · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bolivia, Plurinational State of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Brazil · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Barbados · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Chile · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Colombia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Costa Rica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cuba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominican Republic · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Ecuador · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guadeloupe · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Grenada · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guatemala · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    French Guiana · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guyana · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Honduras · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Haiti · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Jamaica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Kitts and Nevis · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Lucia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Martin (French part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mexico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Montserrat · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Martinique · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Nicaragua · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Panama · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Peru · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Puerto Rico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Paraguay · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    French Polynesia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    El Salvador · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Suriname · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Sint Maarten (Dutch part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Trinidad and Tobago · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Uruguay · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    United States of America · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (British) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (U.S.) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

Image information

  • Photograph of Tillandsia usneoides

    Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA · CC BY 2.0 · File page