What is "glochidia"

Glochidium \Glo*chid"i*um\, n.; pl. Glochidia. [NL., fr. Gr. ? the point of an arrow.] (Zo["o]l.) The larva or young of the mussel, formerly thought to be a parasite upon the parent's gills.

n. (plural of glochidium English)

1. n. a barbed spine or bristle (often tufted on cacti) [syn: glochid]

2. [also: glochidia (pl), glochidcia (pl)]

See glochidium