Coral Mushrooms

Types of Mushrooms Bird's Nest Boletes Jelly Mushrooms Lobster Mushroom Oyster Mushrooms Pacific Golden Chanterelle Puffball Mushrooms Polypores Red Waxy Cap Russula Brevipes Types of Mushrooms

Corals are a colorful group of mushrooms, formally classified as the family Clavariaceae.

They come in a variety of sizes and colors, and they grow in a variety of environments, along side other mushrooms on trees and the ground.

Many species, like the picture of the salmon color coral at the top of the page, share a physical resemblence to salt water corals.

Other coral are small, perhaps an inch tall, and grow in groups consisting of a couple of singular strands. The bottom picture shows a small club like coral in the clavariadelphus genus.

Typically they are not the dominant mushroom family found in any area.

Coral mushrooms can be either easy or difficult to find. Species with brighter colors stand out against the typical green and brown forest background.

When the colorful species are not readily visible, try looking around the base of downed trees or stumps. Smaller corals often sprout in the area.

Many species of coral mushrooms are edible, check your local sources to see which might be available in your area.

© 2007 Patricia A. Michaels