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Archive 2013 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss

  
 
Charlie Shugart
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


I grew up in California thinking these clinging plants were Spanish moss.
Well- they're not.
And they're not parasitic.
Yet (in the far west) they cause the death of small trees and limbs of bigger trees.
Okay- I'm nearing my limits of knowledge on these things.
Apparently they're a type of lichen- and do not send roots into their host tree, but instead take their nutrients from the dead bark and possibly from the air.
Why they kill branches and small trees is because they in fact suffocate them so that the sun never reaches the living parts of the tree.
Okay- now I'm finished
All that aside, I was wandering through a small rain forest in Oregon's Columbia Gorge and thought these "thingies" made for some good closeups.




Spanish Moss? Nope






Spanish Moss? Nope




Dec 04, 2013 at 07:16 PM
KCollett
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


I have never succeeded in capturing what you have here Charlie. Well Done.


Dec 04, 2013 at 09:08 PM
eyelaser
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


I'm lichen these two Charlie...too easy! Very interesting and I'm sure I would have thought this was Spanish moss...pero, no!
Eric



Dec 04, 2013 at 09:15 PM
kmunroe
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


interesting stuff Charlie


Dec 05, 2013 at 03:09 AM
douter
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


Thanks for the Botany lesson Charlie! Good captures. Any macros of these lichens?
Douglas



Dec 05, 2013 at 07:10 AM
Tim Kuhn
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


Nice back story Charlie. They might not be REAL Spanish Moss but that's the only common name I have ever heard used for it. I find it to be extremely unsatisfying to try to photograph up close so wider shots like this tend to work better for me. Nice shots of it and a good explanation about what it is

Tim



Dec 05, 2013 at 09:09 AM
Callisto
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


Charlie,
It's a branch clinging lichen of the Northwest. There are a number varieties and some are rather toxic, if fact, they have been mixed with hamburger and set out as bait for wolves and coyotes. - RC



Dec 05, 2013 at 01:19 PM
Ted ellis
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


Looks like Spanish moss to me


Dec 05, 2013 at 01:37 PM
Charlie Shugart
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


Thanks Ken, Eric, Kenny, Douglas, Tim, Callisto and Ted.
I've never done macro. It's a whole different world, and my attention span isn't long enough for me to... (what was I talking about?)
A bit of research was necessary for me to glean what I did.
Apparently, true "Spanish moss" (which isn't moss ) is a southeast US thing, particularly in moist areas. It has been introduced to other areas around the world- but not much in the west.
True Spanish moss and our west coast clinging lichens are members of very large and similar groups of plants.
To most of us, you'd probably have to have them side-by-side to really understand how they look different.
The first time I decided to find out the truth about how our far-western clinging lichens actually kill tree branches- was in California's Redwoods NP. The local park seasonal naturalists couldn't explain the answers to my questions, so I drove to Crescent City and spoke to the district botanist.
Even he had to use a reference book to make sure he got it right.
So if some of us have been calling it Spanish moss when in fact it isn't- then that's understandable.
As for me- I'm still calling it Spanish moss because friends like Eric, Tim Kuhn and Ted wouldn't know what I was talking about otherwise.
Because there are many times when I REALLY don't know what I'm talking about- I can't take any unnecessary chances .
Charlie



Dec 05, 2013 at 07:19 PM
birdied
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


Fantastic shots Charlie - If you don't mind my adding a shot , this is spanish moss

birdie







Dec 05, 2013 at 08:33 PM
Charlie Shugart
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


Me no mind at all, Birdie .
Thanks for posting it.
And this is also a fine image- love the chewing candy cart.
Now please post a closeup of Spanish moss here .
Charlie



Dec 06, 2013 at 07:53 PM
surfnron
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


Nice Spanish Moss shots Charlie... ~ Ron


Dec 07, 2013 at 09:14 PM
morris
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Rain Forest----That Isn't Spanish Moss


Very nice work Charlie. I've seen the same plants and they do look like Spanish Moss even very close

Morris



Dec 07, 2013 at 10:59 PM





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