Ulvan.
/ˈʌlvə/ Botany.
An alga forming the typical genus of the order Ulvaceæ; the laver or sea-lettuce.
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the world > plants > particular plants > algae > seaweed > [noun] > sea-lettuce
oyster-green1597
sea-lettuce1668
Ulva1706
green laver1762
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Ulva, Reet, or Weed of the Sea, Sea-grass; also Weeds growing in Pools, or standing Waters.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. (at cited word) Bauhine makes the Ulva a purple sea-moss allied to the alga.
1850 A. Pratt Chapters Common Things Sea-side ii. 160 The Ulvæ, or Lavers, are flat green leaves, very transparent, and easily torn, and when laid on paper are scarcely thicker than gold-beater's skin.
1857 J. G. Wood Common Objects Sea Shore 44 I found that the ulva had risen in the water, and was hanging in most elegant festoons from the surface.
1871 C. Kingsley At Last I. i. 14 Here and there floated large fronds of a lettuce-like weed, seemingly an ulva.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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