polyparium
/ˌpɑlɪˈpɛriəm/
noun
- The common skeletal structure or base that supports a colony of polyps (such as corals or hydroids).
- The coral reef is built from the polyparium of countless tiny marine animals.
- Each polyp in the colony adds new layers to the polyparium, creating a hard skeleton.
- Scientists examined the polyparium to understand how the colony grew over time.