coral fungus

biology

Also known as: Clavariaceae, club fungus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

Coral fungus refers to any fungus belonging to the family Clavariaceae. These fungi are named for their tendency to grow in clustered formations that resemble coral.1

It is important to distinguish this from coralroot, which is a genus of nonphotosynthetic orchids. Coralroots are characterized by their coral-like rhizomes and their reliance on mycorrhizal fungi for nutrients, as they typically lack chlorophyll. Additionally, Cordyceps fungi are known endoparasites that infect insects and other arthropods. Coral, in the biological sense, refers to marine invertebrates with stony, horny, or leathery skeletons.234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

mushroom
Other mushrooms
…Ramaria), are shrublike, clublike, or coral-like in growth habit. One club fungus, the cauliflower fungus (Sparassis crispa), has flattened clustered branches that lie close together, giving the appearance of the vegetable cauliflower.
Read More
…Ramaria), are shrublike, clublike, or coral-like in growth habit. One club fungus, the cauliflower fungus (Sparassis crispa), has flattened clustered branches that lie close together, giving the appearance of the vegetable cauliflower.
Read More