polysiphonicadj.
/ˌpɒlɪsʌɪˈfɒnɪk/, U.S. /ˈˌpɑliˌsaɪˈfɑnɪk/ Zoology.
Of the hydrocaulus of a colonial hydroid: composed of two or more tubes fused together.
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the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > shape > [adjective] > tube or canal
venose?a1425
venous1626
canalicular1710
tubal1822
tubuliferous1822
polysiphonous1857
meatal1868
polysiphonic1898
solenial1900
tubulosaccularc1900
siphonaceous1916
1898 A. Sedgwick Student's Text-bk. Zool. I. 125 The coenosark or hydrocaulus is said to be fascicled or polysiphonic when it is composed of several adherent tubes.
1993 Canad. Jrnl. Zool. 71 997 The hydroid colony of B[ougainvillia] aberrans is erect, with a polysiphonic hydrocaulus.
1995 P. F. S. Cornelius et al. in P. J. Hayward & J. S. Ryland Handbk. Marine Fauna N.W. Europe iv. 71/1 Class Hydrozoa. Order Hydroida... Stems and branches comprising a single tube are termed monosiphonic or simple, and those of two or more fused together are called polysiphonic or compound.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1898