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| "reformed fallen to ground Spanish Moss Tillandsia usneoides placed in green space" ©Greg Patch |
"Tillandsia usneoides--also called Spanish moss, long moss and graybeard--is an epiphytic plant. An epiphytic plant is one that hangs from the branches and trunks of a host plant but derives nutrients from the rain and air. It is not parasitic and requires its host for physical and mechanical support only. Tillandsia usneoides commonly grows on the bald cypress and southern live oak trees. The plant has been harvested for centuries and is used in numerous commercial applications--one of which was as stuffing for the seats of Ford Model T cars."
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_moss;
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_moss;
"The plant's specific name usneoides means "resembling Usnea", and it indeed closely resembles its namesake Usnea, also known as beard lichen, but in fact Spanish moss is not biologically related to either mosses or lichens. Instead, it is an angiosperm in the family Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) that grows hanging from tree branches in full sun or partial shade. Formerly this plant has been placed in the genera Anoplophytum,Caraguata, and Renealmia.[2] Its natural range is from Virginia Beach, Virginia in thesoutheastern United States to Argentina, growing wherever the climate is warm enough and has a relatively high average humidity. It has been introduced to similar locations around the world, including Hawaii and Australia."
from Herbal Therapeutics David Winston, Herbalist AHG;
Usnea Usnea babata is a symbiotic life composed of an algae and a fungus. Medicinally Usnea is a powerful antibacterial agent inhibiting gram positive bacteria (Streotococcus, Staphyloccus, Pneumococcus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis). It is also an antifungal agent (ringworm, atheletes foot,) that kills trichomonas and candida. Usnea is an antispasmodic to the lung and large intestine. It is indicated for spastic colon, strep throat, bronchitis, pleuresy, pneumonia and cystitis."
Are their similarities beyond appearance?
what uses medicinally are there for Spanish Moss?
For starters it is rich in calcium...
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_moss
"Spanish moss is an epiphyte which absorbs nutrients (especially calcium) and water from the air and rainfall."
and also pollutants in industrial and vehicular areas that it has absorbed. We could line our highways with Spanish Moss farms. A medicinal from it would need to be grown securely away from these high pollutant areas.
In what form does Spanish Moss return these nutrients to Earth?
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