Spanish moss
Spanish moss always reminds me so much of the south and of Walterboro!
"Tillandsia usneoides (S. E. United States to Argentina and Chile) ... growing from trees as silvery-gray threadlike masses to 25 ft. long, densely covered by the gray scales which are a means of receiving and holding atmospheric moisture, and which help to enable the plant to dispense with roots; small axial flowers with petals 3/8 in. (1 cm) long, in changing colors yellowish-green to blue."
Native Americans called the plant "tree hair", which name the French explorers turned to "Barbe espagnole" -- "Spanish Beard" -- to insult their bitter rivals in the New World. The Spanish retorted with "Cabello francés" ("French hair").
"Spanish Moss", a milder variation of the French taunt, has survived. Another common name is "Graybeard".


slave relic museum
colleton county courthouse
Edisto River
Walterboro courthouse
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