Silverswords

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A rare Hawaiian plant with stiff, narrow leaves covered in silvery hairs, native to volcanic slopes
2. An endangered flowering plant from Hawaii distinguished by its sword-like silver-haired foliage and dramatic flower spikes
3. A striking Hawaiian endemic plant with rigid, elongated leaves that have a silvery appearance due to fine protective hairs

Etymology: "Silverswords" is the plural of "silversword," a plant whose name is a plain compound of "silver" and "sword." The plants are named for their leaves: long, narrow, and covered in silvery hairs that catch the light, so each rosette looks like a cluster of pale blades. They grow in high, dry volcanic terrain, most famously on the slopes of Haleakalā in Hawaii, where the silversword family is a notable example of plants that have evolved a striking form in isolation. The plural follows the ordinary English pattern for compounds ending in a noun, adding "s" to the final element, so the sword part of the name is what carries the number. The compound itself needs no special explanation; the meaning is visible in the name, and the silvery sheen of the leaves is what gives the image its force.