Coral fungus
302520
204103120
2008-04-07T23:40:52Z
Steveprutz
1838690
added see also
{{Taxobox
| name = Coral fungi
| image = 0254-ramaria-stricta-most-alike.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Ramaria stricta''
| regnum = [[Fungus|Fungi]]
| phylum = [[Basidiomycota]]
| classis = [[Agaricomycetes]]
| ordo = [[Cantharellales]]
| familia = '''Clavariaceae''', '''Clavulinaceae''', '''Ramariaceae'''
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision =
''[[Clavaria]]''<br />
''[[Clavicorona]]''<br />
''[[Clavulina]]''<br />
''[[Clavulinopsis]]''<br />
''[[Macrotyphula]]''<br />
''[[Ramaria]]''<br />
''[[Ramariopsis]]''
}}
'''Coral fungi''', also sometimes called '''antler fungi''', are [[mushrooms]] that are so named due to their resemblance to aquatic [[coral]] or antlers.
Initially all classified in the genus ''[[Clavaria]]'', they were later split out into several genera including ''[[Clavicorona]]'',
''[[Clavulina]]'', ''[[Clavulinopsis]]'', ''[[Macrotyphula]]'', ''[[Ramaria]]'' and ''[[Ramariopsis]]''.
Some superficially similar species are not so closely related; the fairy club genus ''[[Clavariadelphus]]'' belongs to the family [[Gomphaceae]], while the genus ''[[Calocera]]'' is an entirely different organism of the class [[Dacrymycetes]].
Coral fungi can be similar in appearance to [[jelly fungi]]. They are often brightly colored, mostly oranges, yellows, or reds, and usually grow in older mature forests. Some coral fungi are [[saprotrophic]] on decaying wood, while others are [[commensal]] or even [[parasitic]].
A number of coral fungi are edible, although they should be cropped while young; when old, these fungi are fibrous or dry and woody. Some (such as ''[[Ramaria flava]]'') have been reported to have strong [[laxative]] effects though they are palatable [http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6746~gid~.asp][http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/usdisp/fungi.html]. Some are too small to be worth [[Mushroom hunting|gathering]]. However, some species are poisonous with acute gastrointestinal symptoms arising from consumption. These include ''[[Ramaria pallida]]'', known as colic coral and ''[[Ramaria formosa]]'', yellow tipped coral fungus. ''[[Ramaria flavobrunnescens|R. flavobrunnescens]]'' has been responsible for the death of livestock in Brazil.
==See also==
*[[mushroom coral]] - marine animals that resemble fungi
==External links==
*[http://americanmushrooms.com/corals.htm AmericanMushrooms.com: Coral Mushrooms]
[[Category:Mushroom types]]
[[Category:Basidiomycota]]
{{Basidiomycetes-stub}}
[[de:Korallen (Pilze)]]
[[fr:Ramariaceae]]
[[lt:Šakočius]]
[[simple:Coral fungi]]
[[sv:Fingersvampar]]