We have to realize that reef is not a biological term. Originally it was a
Dutch shipping term (rif; indeed derived from the word rib) indicating
underwater hard ground dangerous for ships. As such it was introduced
into English, Russian and other languages. The French word rÚcif (and
varieties in other languages) has the same meaning but is of Arabic
origin. Years ago I wrote a paper about the different meanings the term
'reef' has in popular writing, reef biology, fisheries biology, geology etc. I
tried to make some sensible remarks on the widely spread confusion,
undoubtedly in vain.
The use of 'reef' to indicate structures produced by polychaetes is quite
common in the literature, so why not for mushrooms? However, then they
should be aquatic fungi.
Reference: Land, J. van der, 1989. The need for new concepts in reef
biology. - Netherlands Journal Sea Research 23 (2): 231-238, fig. 103.
Dr Jacob van der Land
National Museum of Natural History - Naturalis
P.O.Box 9517
2300 RA Leiden
the Netherlands
e-mail: land at naturalis.nnm.nl
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