Usneoides

Usneoides is a Latin adjectival epithet used in botanical nomenclature to denote resemblance to the lichen genus Usnea. The suffix -oides means "resembling" or "like," so usneoides appears as the second element in a binomial species name rather than as a standalone genus. Its use reflects a descriptive approach to naming rather than a claim of close evolutionary relationship.

One widely known example is Tillandsia usneoides, commonly called Spanish moss. This bromeliad native to warmer parts of the Americas grows as long, pendant strands that hang from trees and other substrates. It is an epiphyte, obtaining moisture and nutrients from the air, and it contributes to its ecosystem by providing habitat and microhabitats for various organisms.

Beyond Tillandsia, the epithet usneoides can occur in other genera, underscoring that it functions as a descriptor rather than a taxonomic rank. The term ultimately derives from Usnea, a genus of fruticose lichens, emphasizing resemblance rather than lineage. In botanical practice, such epithets are governed by nomenclatural codes that regulate the formation and use of species names.