Scientific Name: Ramaria spp.
Common Name(s): Coral Mushroom

Photo by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Fisheries & Water Quality Sr. Technician

Identification:

Coral mushrooms come in a variety of colors and have distinct cathedral-like branching limbs referred to as coralloid basidiomata by mycologists. Species in Ramaria are most commonly yellow, red, or orange but possess other color combinations. The common name of “coral mushroom” is derived from its visual similarity to branching sea coral. The genus name Ramaria eytmologically comes from the Latin ramus which means branching. There are around 500 species in the genus Ramaria known worldwide.

Range: The genus Ramaria is found worldwide, except for Antarctica.

Ecology:

They have mycorrhizal mycelial mat. A mycelial mat is similar in function to tree roots. Mycorrhizal refers to the symbiotic relationship the mycelial mat has with microscopic fungi which help break down raw organic materials into bioavailable nutrients. The mycorrhizal fungus benefits from this relationship by receiving carbohydrates (sugars) from the mushroom root network while the mushroom benefits from the bioavailable nitrogen produced by the mycorrhizal fungus.

Ramaria mushrooms and associated mycorrhizal fungus are important decomposers and are vital to breaking down woody debris and other raw organic materials. This means they are vital to recycling nutrients in ecosystems so that they are bioavailable to larger organisms.

Coral mushroom species can look very similar, so it requires expert analysis to identify them, therefore extreme caution should be taken when assessing edibility. For example, the “cauliflower coral” (Ramaria botrytis) is an example of an edible species. The “pinkish coral mushroom” (Ramaria formosa) is a poisonous species that looks very similar at a glance to the cauliflower mushroom.

Identification to the species level will require a mushroom expert or biologist. The best way to identity is by examining the spores or reproductive structure of the mushroom. With capped mushrooms, mycologists like to make a print of the spores to compare. With coral mushrooms, biologists would slide mount the spores to analyze the sport structure under a microscope. Other factors they consider are important, but the gold standard for identification is the structure of the spore. Identifying the habitat in which it was found and the substrate it is growing in is also good clues. Differences in branching patters are also important identifying characteristics. Lastly, coloration is used since color can be a fickle identifier.

Special Notes:

Ramaria species can be found living on living or dead wood known as lignicolous or living on the dirt or ground known as terricolous. They are most often associated with pine trees but have been documented as being attached to oak trees as well.