Somewhat scrawny beard (3)
I believe the answer is:
awn
'beard' is the definition.
(both can mean a growth on plants)
'somewhat scrawny' is the wordplay.
'somewhat' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'AWN' can be found hidden inside 'scrawny'.
(Other definitions for awn that I've seen before include "Bristle on, eg, barley" , "Beard growing from an ear of barley or rye" , "Bristle in flowering part of some grasses" , "Bristles" , "Beard of cereal" .)