Wikipedia says: Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is a flowering plant that grows upon larger trees, commonly the Southern Live Oak or Bald Cypress in the southeastern United States from Texas and Florida north to Missouri and Virginia. It is also native to much of Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Central America, South America and the West Indies as well as being naturalized in Queensland, Australia and in French Polynesia. 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. Photo taken in central Florida on May 4, 2012. Thanks for stopping by, taking a look and for all your previous favs and comments. They are very much appreciated. Dana