Requiring shallow, warm, clean waters to thrive, a coral is a colony of tiny sac-like polyps that over time produces calcified stony reefs of fabulous colour and complexity. This exhibition catalogue, inspired by the collection at the Manchester Museum, presents a series of essays examining various aspects of coral, including its use in jewellery and ornament; its symbolic importance throughout history; its unusual natural history; and the sensitivity of coral reefs to climate change and pollution.