Filaria

A genus of slender, nematode worms of many species, parasitic in various animals. See Guinea worm.

slender threadlike roundworms living in the blood and tissues of vertebrates; transmitted as larvae by biting insects

European weed naturalized in southwestern United States and Mexico having reddish decumbent stems with small fernlike leaves and small deep reddish-lavender flowers followed by slender fruits that stick straight up; often grown for forage