Zoophyte

Zoophyte (Gr. zōon, 'an animal,' and phyton, 'a plant'), a term signifying animal-plant, employed by Cuvier in his earlier attempts at classification to designate numerous simple animals, sedentary in habit, often with a superficial resemblance to plants. As Cuvier used the term it was practically useless, for, like the title Radiata, in which it was afterwards incorporated, it was applied far too widely to have any precision. If now used it is restricted to hydroid colonies (see HYDROIDS). It would be more accurate if read backwards, phytozoon, or plant-like animal.