kȯ(r)ˈtis(h)ēəm noun
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin cortic-, cortex bark + New Latin -ium — more at cuirass
: a genus of basidiomycetous fungi (family Thelephoraceae) that are distinguished by a simple smooth-surfaced prostrate or resupinate sporophore and that include a number of forms parasitic on wood or on economic crops — see bottom rot 1, pink disease , rhizoctonia