Spongia

Spongia is a genus of marine sponges in the family Spongiidae, originally described by Linnaeus in 1759, containing more than 50 species. Some species, including Spongia officinalis, are used as cleaning tools, but have mostly been replaced in that use by synthetic or plant material. Spongia contains at least 50 valid species, many of which are divided into several subgenera. Most species are in the subgenus Spongia (Spongia).