ZOOPHYTE

zoophyte

(noun) any of various invertebrate animals resembling a plant such as a sea anemone or coral or sponge

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

zoophyte (plural zoophytes)

(biology, historical) An animal thought to have the characteristics of a plant, later specifically an invertebrate of the (former) group Zoophyta, comprising sponges, corals and sea anemones. [from 17th c.]

(biology, historical) A plant believed to have the characteristics of an animal, especially a sensitive plant or vegetable lamb. [from 17th c.]

Source: Wiktionary

Zo"ö*phyte, n. Etym: [F. zoophyte, Gr. Zodiac, and Be, v. i.] (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of numerous species of invertebrate animals which more or less resemble plants in appearance, or mode of growth, as the corals, gorgonians, sea anemones, hydroids, bryozoans, sponges, etc., especially any of those that form compound colonies having a branched or treelike form, as many corals and hydroids. (b) Any one of the Zoöphyta.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition