What the heck is a Grancy Greybeard?

John first told me about this tree last fall when it just had ordinary green leaves on it. He said his Mom called it a Grancy Greybeard. I thought she was just using an old common name for something else. I mean - come on - I'm pretty up on trees and I had never even heard of such a thing. It's real - it's incredible - and it's scientific name is Chionanthus virginicus. It's great to learn something new!