Definition

Noun: 1. A type of grass or sedge: "Sword grass" refers to any of several species of grasses or sedges characterized by having long, narrow, stiff leaves with sharp, often cutting edges, resembling the shape of a sword blade.

Usage Notes

• The term "sword grass" is a common name, not a precise botanical classification. It is applied to various species in different regions based on the shared physical characteristic of sharp-edged, sword-like leaves.
• It is typically used in botanical, ecological, or descriptive natural contexts.
• The sharp edges of the leaves can easily cut human skin, which is a key identifying feature.

Examples

• General Use:
  • Hikers were warned to avoid the patches of sword grass along the trail.
  • The wetland was dominated by tall reeds and sword grass.
  • He cut his hand while clearing the dense sword grass from the garden.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological Role: In ecological writing, "sword grass" may be mentioned as a component of specific habitats, such as coastal dunes or wetlands.
  • The dune system is stabilized by pioneer species like marram grass and sword grass.

Variants and Related Words

• Blady grass (): A specific and widespread species often called "sword grass" or "cogon grass" in many regions.
• Sedge: A family of grass-like plants (Cyperaceae) to which some plants called "sword grass" belong.
• Cutting grass: Another common name used for similar sharp-edged grasses.

Synonyms

• Blady grass
• Cogon grass (for )
• Spear grass (Note: "Spear grass" often refers to grasses with sharp seed heads, not necessarily sharp leaf edges, so it is not a perfect synonym.)

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary and essentially only meaning of "sword grass" is botanical, referring to the physical description of the plant's leaves. It does not have common idiomatic or figurative meanings.

Noun

1. any of various grasses or sedges having sword-shaped leaves with sharp edges