glochidium

glo·chid·i·um  (gl-kd-m)

n. pl. glo·chid·i·a (--)

1. Zoology The parasitic larva of certain freshwater mussels of the family Unionidae, having hooks for attaching to the gills or other external parts of a host fish.

2. Botany Variant of glochid.

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[New Latin glchidium : Greek glkhs, barb of an arrow + Latin -idium, diminutive suff. (from Greek -idion).]

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glo·chidi·ate (-t, -t) adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

glochidium - a barbed spine or bristle (often tufted on cacti) glochid pricker, prickle, spikelet, sticker, thorn, spine - a small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf