What is "mushroom coral"

Mushroom \Mush"room\, a.

1. Of or pertaining to mushrooms; as, mushroom catchup.

2. Resembling mushrooms in rapidity of growth and shortness of duration; short-lived; ephemerial; as, mushroom cities.

   Mushroom anchor, an anchor shaped like a mushroom, capable of grasping the ground in whatever way it falls.

   Mushroom coral (Zo["o]l.), any coral of the genus Fungia. See Fungia.

   Mushroom spawn (Bot.), the mycelium, or primary filamentous growth, of the mushroom; also, cakes of earth and manure containing this growth, which are used for propagation of the mushroom.

   mushroom cloud, a cloud of smoke rising and then spreading laterally to take on the shape of a mushroom -- caused by large fires or explosions, esp. nuclear explosions.

n. flattened disk-shaped stony coral usually solitary