Venus's flower basket

Venus's flower basket
a glass sponge of the genus Euplectella, inhabiting deep waters off the Philippines and Japan, having a cylindrical skeleton formed of an intricate latticework of siliceous spicules.
[1870-75]

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▪ sponge
      any of several sponges of the genus Euplectella, especially E. aspergillum (class Hexactinellida, glass sponges). The name Venus's flower basket derives from the sponges' delicate, white, latticelike skeletons made of silica. In the living animal the skeleton is covered by a thin layer of cells. E. aspergillum is found in a small area of the sea near the Philippine Islands. Similar species occur near Japan and in other parts of the western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The animal's skeleton, or “basket,” is a curved tube about 25 cm (10 inches) long. A tuft of fibres at the narrow base attaches the animal to the sea bottom. Euplectella species feed on organic debris and microscopic organisms that are drawn into its central cavity through numerous holes in the body wall. The skeleton of Venus's flower basket is a prized curio. In Japan it is regarded as a symbol of eternal love because each basket commonly contains a mated pair of shrimp.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Venus's flower basket — Venus Ve nus, n. [L. Venus, eris, the goddess of love, the planet Venus.] 1. (Class. Myth.) The goddess of beauty and love, that is, beauty or love deified. [1913 Webster] 2. (Anat.) One of the planets, the second in order from the sun, its orbit …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Venus's flower-basket — Euplectella Eu plec*tel la, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? well plaited; e y^ well + ? plaited.] (Zo[ o]l) A genus of elegant, glassy sponges, consisting of interwoven siliceous fibers, and growing in the form of a cornucopia; called also {Venus s flower… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Venus's flower-basket — noun Date: 1872 any of several glass sponges (genus Euplectella) of the western Pacific and Indian oceans called also Venus flower basket …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • venus's-flower-basket — noun (plural venus s flower baskets) Usage: usually capitalized V : a delicate tubular or cornucopia shaped hexactinellid sponge (genus Euplectella) native to the East Indies and the eastern coast of Asia and having a skeleton of glassy… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Venus's flower basket — noun a deep sea sponge of the genus Euplectella, having an intricate skeleton of siliceous spicules …  

  • Venus's flower basket — noun a deep water marine sponge having a cylindrical skeleton of intricate glassy latticework; found in the waters of the East Indies and the eastern coast of Asia • Hypernyms: ↑glass sponge • Member Holonyms: ↑Euplectella, ↑genus Euplectella …   Useful english dictionary

  • Venus flower basket — noun see Venus s flower basket …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Venus' Flower Basket — Taxobox name = Venus Flower Basket image width = 200px regnum = Animalia phylum = Porifera classis = Hexactenellida familia = Euplectellidae genus = Euplectella species = E. aspergillum binomial = Euplectella aspergillum binomial authority = Owen …   Wikipedia

  • Venus's basket — Venus Ve nus, n. [L. Venus, eris, the goddess of love, the planet Venus.] 1. (Class. Myth.) The goddess of beauty and love, that is, beauty or love deified. [1913 Webster] 2. (Anat.) One of the planets, the second in order from the sun, its orbit …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Venus — Ve nus, n. [L. Venus, eris, the goddess of love, the planet Venus.] 1. (Class. Myth.) The goddess of beauty and love, that is, beauty or love deified. [1913 Webster] 2. (Anat.) One of the planets, the second in order from the sun, its orbit lying …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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