azolla
|a-zol-la|
🇺🇸
/əˈzɑːlə/
🇬🇧
/əˈzɒlə/
small floating water fern
Etymology
'azolla' originates from New Latin, specifically the botanical name 'Azolla'; the ultimate origin is uncertain and may derive from a local vernacular name rather than a known classical root.
'azolla' was adopted in botanical Latin as the genus name (used in modern taxonomic literature) and has remained largely unchanged since its adoption in scientific nomenclature.
Initially it referred to the plant (or a local name for it); over time it has remained a scientific name for the genus and its common‑name uses (e.g., 'mosquito fern') have continued.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of very small, free‑floating aquatic ferns (family Azollaceae), commonly called mosquito ferns; often forms dense green mats on freshwater and is notable for symbiosis with nitrogen‑fixing cyanobacteria (Anabaena azollae), used in some agricultural systems as a biofertilizer.
Azolla covered the surface of the pond, forming a dense green mat.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/07 19:08