Venus's Flower Basket, the common name of the euplectella speciosa (Gray), a very beautiful silicious sponge, found among the Philippine islands. The animal framework or skeleton, which in the living specimen is covered with the usual fibro-gelatinous substance of the sponges, is made up of silicious fibres, running from base to top, surrounded by smaller ones, forming open meshes resembling a basket or network, or delicate lace-like fabric. It is of a regular cornucopia shape, from 6 to 15 in. high, about an inch in diameter at the base, which is attached to some submarine object, gradually increasing to nearly 2 in. at the top; it is surmounted by a ridge about a quarter of an inch wide, and is closed above by a delicate network; the shape is very elegant, and the structure light. It sometimes encloses a hermit crab, which has entered for protection and been covered in by the growing sponge. By immersing the sponge in a dilute solution of chloride of soda or lime, the gelatinous film is removed, and the lace-like structure of pure silex is left untouched.

The first specimen obtained was valued at over $150, but now they cost only a few dollars.

Venus's Flower Basket (Euplectella speciosa).