pampas-grass

A tall clump of pampas-grass sways gently in the breeze.

Definition

Noun: - A tall ornamental grass: "pampas-grass" refers to a large, perennial grass species (genus Cortaderia, especially Cortaderia selloana) native to South America, characterized by long, arching leaves and large, silvery-white or pinkish feathery plumes (inflorescences) that are often used in dried flower arrangements.

Usage Examples

• (The tall grass with feathery plumes was planted as decoration.)
• (The plumes were used as decorative dried flowers.)
• (The grass species is noted for its height and ecological impact.)

Advanced Usage

• "Pampas-grass plume": the feathery flower head of the plant.
  • The pampas-grass plumes swayed gently in the wind. (The flower heads moved gracefully.)
• "Pampas-grass invasion": refers to the uncontrolled spread of the species in non-native habitats.
  • California has seen a pampas-grass invasion along coastal areas, displacing native plants. (The grass is spreading aggressively and harming local ecosystems.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pampas (n): the vast, treeless plains of South America, from which the grass gets its name.
  • The gauchos roamed the pampas on horseback. (The plains of Argentina and Uruguay.)
• Pampas-grass plume (n): a single flower head of the plant.

Synonyms

• Cortaderia: the scientific genus name for pampas-grass.
• Silver grass: a common name for certain ornamental grasses with silvery plumes.

Related Idioms

• "As tall as pampas-grass": a simile used to describe something exceptionally tall or towering.
  • The new skyscraper is as tall as pampas-grass in the prairie. (An exaggerated comparison for height.)

Additional Notes

• Plural: "pampas-grasses" is used when referring to multiple species or clumps.
  • Several pampas-grasses were planted along the driveway. (Multiple clumps of the grass.)
• Common misspelling: often written as "pampas grass" (without hyphen), but the hyphenated form is standard in dictionaries.