phyto-, phyt-, -phyte
(Greek: a plant; growth; growing in a specified way or place; to produce)
Any of various invertebrate animals that resemble plants in morphology (form) or mode of life more than that of an animal: The sea anemones, corals, and sponges are considered to be zoophytes.
Sponges, for example, are just barely animals. In fact, they are such a borderline case that until the nineteenth century they were called zoophytes, the animal-plants. Sponges are among the most primitive forms of multicellular animal life.
The branch of zoology concerned with the animals thought to have the aspects or characteristics of plants: Susan decided that she wanted to specialize in zoophytology and be an expert in the research of crinoids, along with corals, sponges, and sea anemones.
A plant in which reproduction is done by the union of two similar reproductive cells which unite in fertilization: The alga organism is one example of a zygophyte and reproduces itself by the way of zygospores.
