What is hanging on the branches of the bald cypress?

The grey plant hanging on the branches of the trees is called the Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides). This plant's specific name usneoides means "resembling Usnea". While it superficially resembles its namesake, Spanish moss is neither a moss nor a lichen like Usnea. Instead, it belongs in the family of Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads). Its closer relative is the pineapple, for example. It is called an epiphytic plant, i.e. it mostly lives on trees. It has no roots at all, it has small, uncharacteristic flowers and it clings to the branch with its elongated curly, scaly leaves. What we see as a hanging structure is actually several, clinging, 6 cm size plant. It does not harm the tree as it does not draw nutrients from it, it only uses it as a habitat. It obtains water and nutrients from the air and rainwater. For this reason, it mostly chooses humid and rainy places as its habitat, so it is not surprising that one of its favourite trees is the bald cypress. It is also common on old oak trees. It is also able to survive the drier environment, in which case it goes dormant until the wet period returns.The plant curtain formed by beard bromeliads is home to many animals, such as birds, reptiles, bats, and insects. There is a spider species, Pelegrina tillandsia, which does not occur anywhere else.

Fig. 01. Spanish moss, source: beverlymixon, 2009
Fig. 02. Swampy environment in Louisiana, source: beverlymixon, 2009
Fig. 03. Spanis moss, source: Jud McCranie, 2013 / Wikimedia