conferva
noun
con·fer·va
kənˈfərvə
1
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
2
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