Hymenophyllaceae

plural noun

Hy·​me·​no·​phyl·​la·​ce·​ae

ˌhīmə(ˌ)nōfə̇ˈlāsēˌē

: a family of ferns having delicate fronds with sessile sporangia on a receptacle resembling a bristle and surrounded by a cup-shaped, tubular, or 2-valved involucre

hymenophyllaceous

¦⸗⸗(ˌ)⸗⸗¦lāshəs

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Hymenophyllum, type genus + -aceae

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!