Water spangles have paired rounded leaves with stiff, hairs above and roots beneath. Close-up of the small aquatic plants that cover the swamp waters. Epiphytes thrive among the tall cypress trees. The most abundant epiphytes found within the swamp include spanish moss, ball moss, reflexed wild pine and cardinal wild pine. The gray leaves of spanish moss can be seen dangling from cypress trees all along the Cypress Swamp Boardwalk.
Spanish moss is an epiphyte that is related to the pineapple.
Spanish moss is commonly found throughout Florida. A cypress tree supports the flowering cardinal wild pine bromeliad. Bromeliads are members of the pineapple family. The pineapple-like leaf arrangement is common to the family. This collection of water between its leaves provides a habitat for mosquitoes and other aquatic insects, small tree frogs, frogs, and lizards.