“This family of evergreen plants bears swordlike leaves in shades of green, coppery red, and yellow, plus variegations.”

“The stalks stand shoulder to shoulder like an army without rank, their sharp-edged, swordlike leaves forming a nearly impenetrable wall.”

“The tallest, with a swordlike nose, is handing an eyeball to the roundest, while the smallest, with green hair, skulks behind her.”

“In the swordless platies, females also prefer males with artificially attached swords over conspecific males.”

“Immature males are swordless but develop the sword extension during the sexual maturation process.”