conferva

noun

con·fer·va

kənˈfərvə

capitalized in some especially former classifications : a genus of filamentous green algae containing a number of species of doubtful relationship many of which are now usually placed in the genus Tribonema

plural confervae

-(ˌ)vē

: an alga of the genus Tribonema

broadly : any of various filamentous algae that form scums in still or sluggish fresh water

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, a water plant, from confervēre to boil together, grow together, heal, from com- + fervēre, fervere to boil; from its supposed healing power