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

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