Coral and club fungi are two generic categories that group many unrelated mushrooms together by appearance.
Coral mushrooms are a group of fungi that have a branched, coral-like appearance. Some genera that include coral-like mushrooms are Ramaria, Clavaria, Lentaria and Ramariopsis, among others. These fungi are found all over the world and come in a variety of colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, and purple. Some species of coral fungi are edible but are rather insipid and insubstantial when cooked.
Club fungi (or mushrooms shaped like a club) – mushrooms in this group include species from such varied genera as Clavariadelphus, Cordyceps, Macrotyphula, Microglossum, Geoglossum, Spathularia, and even some Xylaria species.
Corals and Clubs at Indiana Fungi
Coral and club fungi
Resources:
- Clubs and Corals at MushroomExpert.Com
- Club and Coral Fungi at MykoWeb
- Club, Coral & Fan Fungi at Farmscape Ecology Program
- Field Key to species of Ramaria in the Pacific Northwest
- Ramaria by Microscopic Features – Queensland Mycological Society. Many Ramaria species from Australia are described in detail; macro and micro. Great learning tool for describing members of this genus.