Bot. [f. (by J. G. Agardh, 1842) FAVELLA + Gr. dim. ending -ιδιον (improperly used, as no diminutive sense was intended.] See quots.
[1842. Agardh, Algæ, 60. Sunt sporæ numerosæ in glomerulum arcte congestæ, pericarpio hyalino … circumdatæ; has Favellidia appellavi.]
1857. Berkeley, Cryptog. Bot., § 144. 170. Thus by the evolution of one cell, a favella, or simple globose nucleus, containing many spores within a hyaline periderm, is formed; by the evolution of several detached but adjacent mother-cells, a compound favella or favellidium results, and by the similar evolution of the cells of the moniliform series the highest form of favellidium is produced.
1867. J. Hogg, Microsc., II. i. 273. Such a fruit is called a favellidium and occurs in Halymenia.
1884. Syd. Soc. Lex., Favellidium (dim. of Favella), a form of the conceptacular part of a florideous Alga, in which the spores are collected into spherical masses, which lie entirely embedded in the substance of the frond, as in Halymenia; or project somewhat, as in Gigartina.
