witch's hair

alternative witches' hair

1. Any of various fruticose or hair-like lichens, especially in the genus Alectoria (e.g. Alectoria sarmentosa) or sometimes Usnea or Gowardia (e.g. Gowardia nigricans).

   Witch's hair (Alectoria sarmentosa) Branches smoother than in Usnea, with tiny, elongated bumps. Forks in branches […] witch's hair lichens […]

   2014 March 3, Richard Carstensen, Bob Armstrong, Rita M. O’Clair, The Nature of Southeast Alaska: A Guide to Plants, Animals, and Habitats, Graphic Arts Books, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   ... held his clump of witch's hair up to his arm pit. "Hey, look I'm growing arm pit hair!" The boys laughed. Jared grabbed some and pulled it over his lip and announced, "I've got a mustache!" The other boys pulled clumps of witch's hair off of nearby bushes[…]

   2011 November 29, Randel McGirr, Campfire Songs, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 214

   [They look like] witch's hair, except that they have some short perpendicular branches. All Usnea species share one distinctive feature : when stretched gently, the thicker branches (unless extremely dry) reveal an elastic, pure white inner cord[…]

   2017 March 21, Daniel Mathews, Natural History of the Pacific Northwest Mountains, Timber Press, →ISBN, page 333

2. A seaweed, Desmarestia aculeata.
3. Dodder, any of various plants of the genus Cuscuta.