old man's beard meaning and definition

OLD MAN'S BEARD noun

Definition of old man's beard (noun)

1. dense festoons of greenish-grey hairlike flexuous strands anchored to tree trunks and branches by sparse wiry roots; southeastern United States and West Indies to South America
   • synonyms: black moss, long moss, Spanish moss, Tillandsia usneoides
2. vigorous deciduous climber of Europe to Afghanistan and Lebanon having panicles of fragrant green-white flowers in summer and autumn
   • synonyms: Clematis vitalba, traveler's joy, traveller's joy
3. common climber of eastern North America that sprawls over other plants and bears numerous panicles of small creamy white flowers
   • synonyms: Clematis virginiana, devil's darning needle, virgin's bower