snowgrass

English

Alternative forms

• snow grass

Etymology

From snow +‎ grass.

Noun

snowgrass (plural snowgrasses)

1. tough clumps of mountain grass that are covered in snow part of the year
2. (Australia) Any of various grasses of high-country areas of southeastern Australia (including Tasmania), especially perennials of the genus Poa. [from 19th c.]
   • 1999, Julia Leigh, The Hunter, Faber & Faber 2012, p. 30:

     But there are few dry twigs or leaves to be found, and so he gathers a clump of snow grass and with his cigarette lighter he singes this grass, holding it close to him so that he can absorb its scent.

Translations

tough clumps of mountain grass

• Maori: haumata, hunangāmoho