Why does Spanish Moss (which is neither Spanish nor moss) rarely grow on pine trees?
Answer:
Spanish Moss grows best on trees with leaves that easily lose calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Rainwater leaches these minerals from the leaves, and is then absorbed by the Spanish Moss. Oaks seem to provide the best mix of minerals, so it is not unusual to see areas of mixed oak and pine, where all the oaks are covered, and the pines have little or no Spanish Moss.
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