Coral fungus
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 Ramaria stricta
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Clavaria |
Coral fungi (also called antler fungi by some) are mushrooms that are so named due to their resemblance to aquatic coral or antlers. A number of coral fungi are edible, but some (such as Ramaria flava) have been reported to have strong laxative effects though they are palatable [1][2]. Some are too small to be worth gathering.
They should be cropped while young; when old, these fungi are fibrous or dry and woody. Some species become toxic when cut with a metal knife or washed in metal sieves and should be cleaned only with wooden tools [reference needed].
Coral fungi can be similar in appearance to jelly fungi. They are often brightly coloured, mostly oranges, yellows, or reds, and usually grow in older mature forests. Some of the coral family (Clavariaceae) are saprotrophic on decaying wood, while others are commensal or even parasitic.
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