Saprolegnia
/ˌsæprəˈlɛɡniə/noun
A genus of water molds, many of which grow on decaying organic matter or infect fish and amphibians.
Did you know?The name was coined from Greek roots because these water molds form threadlike filaments on dead or dying material, making the word itself a tiny scientific portrait of decomposition.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
sapros
“rotten, putrid”
Ancient Greek
Greek
legnē / lēgnion
“netting, a woven web or lattice”
19th Century
New Latin
Saprolegnia
“a genus name for threadlike water molds associated with decay”
Modern English
English
saprolegnia
“a water mold genus, especially species growing on decaying matter or causing disease in aquatic animals”