The family Corticiaceae is a group of fungi within the order Corticiales (class Agaricomycetes, phylum Basidiomycota) that are primarily saprotrophic, decomposing dead wood, leaf litter, and other plant debris. Members of this family are commonly referred to as corticioid fungi due to their thin, crust-like, or effused fruiting bodies that grow flat on substrates. They play an important ecological role in nutrient cycling by breaking down lignin and cellulose in wood. Corticiaceae exhibit basidiospores on smooth or slightly ornamented hymenial surfaces, and their hyphal system is typically monomitic, consisting of only generative hyphae. Some species are also weak plant pathogens, but the majority are decomposers, making them essential in forest ecosystems for organic matter recycling.