volvox

[ vol-voks ]

/ ˈvɒl vɒks /

any colonial, freshwater green algae of the genus Volvox, forming a hollow, greenish sphere of flagellated cells.

Origin of volvox

1790–1800; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin volv(ere) to turn, roll + -ōx (as in ferōx)

volutin, volution, volva, volvelle, volvent, volvox, volvulosis, volvulus, volzhsky, vom, vomer

After a period of rest each zygote, through a series of cell-divisions, develops into an adult Volvox.

Being Well-Born |Michael F. Guyer
Part of the surface of a colony of Volvox globator, L. (Volvocidae), showing the intercellular connective fibrils.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 4 |Various
A very instructive example is furnished by the case of volvox, a multicellular vegative organism of very curious habits.

The Truth About Woman |C. Gasquoine Hartley
Volvox is also a spheroidal organism, composed often of a very large number of flagellated cells.

The Whence and the Whither of Man |John Mason Tyler

In some cases (Volvox) the cluster, or the compound plant, is round and moves briskly in the water, closely resembling an animal.

The Story of Evolution |Joseph McCabe

volvox

/ (ˈvɒlvɒks) /

any freshwater flagellate protozoan of the genus Volvox, occurring in colonies in the form of hollow multicellular spheres

C18: from New Latin, from Latin volvere to roll