It favors damp woods, often growing on dead or dying trees. Some trees, shrubs, and climbing Usnea lichen is also known as Songluo (in Chinese), Old man’s beard, Hanging hair, or just tree moss. It was introduced there as a garden plant, but its wind blown seeds soon found other homes - in their woods and forests . Click the link below to see what else this fantastic plant/lichen can do. Usnea is not a parasite, like mistletoe can be, but is a Trusted and Undisputed When it Comes to it’s Healing Abilities Old Man’s Bread Moss kills staph infections, helps with respiratory challenges, helps with bronchitis, colds, the flu, indigestion, helps with urinary tract infections, vaginal, fungal and sinus infections, and … People also refer to usnea as “Old Man’s Beard.” For starters, it is a lichen you can find in many parts of the world. Traveller's joy (Clematis vitalba), also known as old man's beard, is a woody member of the buttercup family is often seen scrambling over hedgerows. Whilst we consider old man's beard to be 'normal' plant of the hedgerow, it is viewed with some alarm in places like New Zealand. ex Ker Gawl. Traveller's Joy, Goatsbeard, Old Man's Beard Clematis aristata R.Br. Clematis, a member of the Ranunculaceae (or buttercup) family , is a large genus of over 200 species, chiefly native to the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. This herbal supplement offers benefits for people of all ages and its benefits span a range of health conditions and ailments. Several species of lichen have this nickname. Who would benefit from it? Old Man's Beard Common name: Old Man’s Beard Botanical name: Clematis vitalba Management programme: Progressive containment Why is it a pest? Leaves on these plants usually hang down and often resemble an old man's beard. Old man's beard can refer to several types of plants.