saprolegnia

noun

sap·​ro·​leg·​nia

ˌsaprəˈlegnēə

1

capitalized : a genus (the type of the family Saprolegniaceae of the order Saprolegniales) of fungi having a stout tubular multinucleate much-branched thallus without constrictions, producing, dimorphic zoospores, growing in water chiefly on plant debris and animal remains, and including one form (S. ferax) that attacks living fish, tadpoles, and spawn and causes the white fungus disease

2

plural -s : any fungus of the genus Saprolegnia

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from sapr- + Greek legnon border + New Latin -ia

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