old man's beard

noun

• 1a wild clematis which has grey fluffy hairs around the seeds.

  • Genus Clematis, family Ranunculaceae: several species, in particular (in Britain) traveller’s joy

• 2a large lichen that forms shaggy greyish beard-like growths on the branches of trees.

  • Usnea barbata and related species, order Parmeliales