woman with a flower
Coral fungi is a term widely used to encompass a wide variety of fungi with erect, club-shaped, or branching bodies. Also known as club mushrooms, mold, horn mushrooms, and spaghetti mushrooms, they resemble corals found on the ocean floor and have a clumped appearance. They belong to the genus Clavaria, and although many types are called clavarioid fungi, they are not closely related. Carnations are often rubbery and can grow in bold colors like purple, orange, and yellow. Although they are not poisonous, people should be careful when eating them because some varieties can produce laxative effects.
With club- or finger-shaped stems, coral mushrooms can grow very large and weigh up to 50 pounds (23 kg). The branches or clubs are covered by spore-producing cells and produce basidiospores. The height of the stems not only makes it easier for the spores to disperse widely, but the larger surface area lends itself to the production of more spores. The surfaces that contain the spores are usually rough or smooth. The fungus is very well designed to disperse long-range spores into new areas.
Serving as decomposers, coral fungi grow on dead and decaying vegetation. They look impressive when found in large numbers due to their unusual appearance. Although they typically grow in forests on twigs, stumps, logs, and fallen leaves, they appear in mossy fields and grasslands. Some members of the species develop mutually beneficial relationships with the roots of living trees, and others are more like lichens. Coral fungi are primarily tropical and are found throughout the world.
Linneaus is credited with creating the genus Clavaria in the species Plantarum, which emerged in 1753. Different varieties of coral fungi are distinguished by their appearance. Ramaria armeniaca is a bright orange common in Idaho. Another common variety is Ramaria formosa, which is a striking salmon color on the outside and bright orange on the inside. The fused gelatinous branches belong to the species Ramaria gelatinosa, which grows near woody debris.
Unusual varieties include Ramaria stricta, which is bright yellow. This coral fungus turns brown when cut or handled and normally grows on wood. A delicate type of coral fungus, Ramaria abietina, is yellow and green in color and grows among leaf litter. Ramaria amyloidea is a very rare type of fungus that is peach.