Whenever introducing land plants to students, I emphasize Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) as neither Spanish—it looks like a bearded conquistador—nor moss—it’s an angiosperm or flowering plant. Here’s the proof: wind-dispersed seeds protected by a recently split, dried pod. Mosses lack flowers, fruits, and seeds.

Also evident are the flaky trichomes, which help the plant to soak up moisture and nutrients from the atmosphere. It’s not parasitic like mistletoe nor do the live, hanging bunches contain chiggers.

Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) dots the understory of the maritime forests at Skidaway Island State Park.

A couple of weeks ago, the Southern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) began to produce cones and drop pollen in the Savannah area. The longleaf and loblolly pine also seem to be going, covering vehicles with a thick coat of yellow dust.

A few junipers have berries present still.