It normally lives as a saprotrophic mold, but can also be an opportunistic pathogen known to cause pulmonary, CNS, rhinocerebral, or cutaneous infections in animals and humans with impaired immunity.

[5] The species is characterized by a conically shaped columella and a short, pronounced projection, a funnel-shaped apophysis, on the top.

[6] Originally described in Central Europe, the fungus has been found in the Middle East, Great Britain, North and South America, India, and Africa.

[5] It is usually found inhabiting soil or dead plant material,[4][5] and in association with farm animals, such as cattle and horses, probably because it decomposes hay and grass.

[5] Furthermore, L. corymbifera can survive well in humid environments, for example, in swamps, dung, grasslands or sewage, in cotton, grains and straw as well.

In culture, the fungus is pale white at first and turns grey with age; the colonies are observed to reach up to 15 mm in thickness.

[5] Lichtheimia corymbifera accounts for approximately 5% of mucormycoses today,[4] but true prevalence is unclear because the disease is not generally reportable and the diagnosis of mucormycosis is often empirical or based on the recovery of any zygomycetous fungus.

[5] Other immunodeficiency diseases that predispose to infection are diabetes, blood cancers like leukemia or large skin wounds such as those secondary to burn injury.

[5] In humans, mucormycosis caused by L. corymbifera typically involves deep infection of the rhinocerebral and bronchorespiratory tract.

These side effects can be relatively mild, resulting in chills and muscle pain but can also include severe forms of nephrotoxicity.

This species is variably susceptible to Itraconazole and highly resistant to Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Voriconazole and Echinocandins.

Other species of Lichtheimia are morphologically and genetically distinct but share highly similar antifungal drug susceptibilities.