Mop Head Lichen

It looks like a mop head growing off the top of this rock. It is in fact a lichen known as Usnea inermis. A popular name for it is "old man's beard".

 

On a more dramatic note, it did make me think of those ugly creatures known as Morlocks in the 1960 sci-fi movie, The Time Machine.

1960 George Pal - "The Time Machine" (Morlocks excerpt)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_S4eGrczdQ

 

Done