Phosphoric Eddy Wasabi

Greek phōsphóros, light-bringer — adjectival suffix -ic. As a color modifier, phosphoric implies a saturated-and-cool-glow quality, the bright color of match-tip-strike and firefly phosphorus-emission luminescence. Sits at the bright-and-cool end of the grid, parallel to phosphorescent and fluorescent in usage.

Old Norse iða, whirlpool-or-current. As a color modifier, eddy implies a small-circling-and-counter-current quality, the visual register of river-bend-and-tidal-pool-eddy hand-small-circling-and-counter-current river-bend-and-tidal-pool-and-rock-shelter eddied-and-small-circling-and-counter-current surfaces under river-bend-and-tidal-pool-and-rock-shelter Highland-burn-and-coastal-cove curl-and-spiral-light. Sits at the modifier-and-mood end of the grid, parallel to swirl and stir in usage.

Eutrema japonicum, the river-grown rhizome from the cold streams of Honshu, ground fresh into the green paste that accompanies sushi in traditional Japanese restaurants. Most wasabi served outside Japan is dyed horseradish — the real plant is rare and expensive. The color refers to fresh-grated wasabi: a soft, slightly muted yellow-green with the matte finish of a wet plant cell wall, brighter than sage, drier than matcha.