Alsophila
noun
Al·soph·i·la
alˈsäfələ
1
: a large genus of tree ferns (family Cyatheaceae) found in tropical mountainous regions having ample finely divided fronds bearing naked sori
2
alsophila plural alsophilas : a fern of the genus Alsophila
3
: a genus of geometrid moths having wingless females and green-striped larvae that are loopers and include the common destructive fall cankerworm
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Greek alsos grove + New Latin -phila; akin to Greek aldēskein to grow
First Known Use
1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1