conferva

American  

[kon-fur-vuh] / kɒnˈfɜr və /

noun

plural

confervae, confervas

1. any simple filamentous green algae, many of which were formerly classified in the genus Conferva.

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conferva British  

/ kɒnˈfɜːvə /

noun

1. any of various threadlike green algae, esp any of the genus Tribonema, typically occurring in fresh water

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Other Word Forms

• conferval adjective
• confervoid adjective
• confervous adjective

Etymology

Origin of conferva

1630–40; < Latin: a certain water plant supposed to heal wounds, akin to confervēre to grow together, heal ( see con-, fervent)

Example Sentences

Our mass of conferva turns out to contain one of the most elegant species.

From Marvels of Pond-life A Year's Microscopic Recreations by Slack, Henry J.

I know it is not new; but how wonderful his account of the spermatozoa of some dioecious alga or conferva, swimming and finding the minute micropyle in a distinct plant, and forcing its way in!

From More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 2 by Darwin, Francis, Sir

Polyps may be obtained at all times of the year by bringing home duckweed, conferva, and other water-plants from the ponds.

From Marvels of Pond-life A Year's Microscopic Recreations by Slack, Henry J.

At Maypures a conferva is burnt, which is left by the Orinoco on the neighbouring rocks, when, after high swellings, it again enters its bed.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 2 by Humboldt, Alexander von

A plant of this kind is not the less dominant because some conferva inhabiting the water or some parasitic fungus is infinitely more numerous in individuals, and more widely diffused.

From The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, 6th Edition by Darwin, Charles