Con-fér'va, n.

(14), n.; pl. CON-FÉR'VÆ. [Lat. conferv- va, a kind of water-plant, from confervere, to boil, heal or grow together, from con and fervere, to boil; — so called from its healing power.] (Bot.) An extensive section of the Algæ, embracing those plants which consist of slender jointed green filaments. It includes the green, scum-like vegetation often called frog-spittle. Dana.