in botany, a species of pube, or down, with which the surface of some plants is covered. The term was invented by Linnaeus, and made its appearance in the Delineatio Plantarum, without any explanation. Its meaning, therefore, has not been accurately ascertained; though, by its application in the Species Plantarum, it seems to signify a tuft or bunch of strong hairs terminating the leaves. Mefembryanthemum barbatum, furnishes an example.

The word is also often used in composition with some other, to form the trivial names of several plants, as barba javini, barba capre, &c.