in Botany, a species of pubes, or down, with which the surface of some plants is covered. The term was invented by Linnaeus; and by its application in the Species Plantarum, seems to signify a tuft or bunch of strong hairs terminating the leaves. Megembryanthemum 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 jovis, barba caprae, &c.