Coral fungus

Coral fungus

Taxobox
name = Coral fungi


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Ramaria stricta"
regnum = Fungi
phylum = Basidiomycota
classis = Agaricomycetes
ordo = Cantharellales
familia = Clavariaceae, Clavulinaceae, Ramariaceae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Clavaria"
"Clavicorona"
"Clavulina"
"Clavulinopsis"
"Macrotyphula"
"Ramaria"
"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 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. "R. flavobrunnescens" has been responsible for the death of livestock in Brazil.

ee also

*mushroom coral - marine animals that resemble fungi

External links

* [http://americanmushrooms.com/corals.htm AmericanMushrooms.com: Coral Mushrooms]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • coral fungus — noun any of numerous fungi of the family Clavariaceae often brightly colored that grow in often intricately branched clusters like coral • Hypernyms: ↑fungus • Hyponyms: ↑club fungus • Member Holonyms: ↑Clavariaceae, ↑family Clavariaceae …   Useful english dictionary

  • coral fungus — /kɒrəl ˈfʌŋgəs/ (say koruhl fungguhs) noun (plural coral fungi /ˈkɒrəl fʌŋgi/ (say koruhl funggee) or coral funguses) any of the variously tinted fungi of the family Clavariaceae, with club like branched fruiting bodies which resemble coral …  

  • fungus — fungic /fun jik/, adj. funguslike, adj. /fung geuhs/, n., pl. fungi /fun juy, fung guy/, funguses, adj. n. 1. any of a diverse group of eukaryotic single celled or multinucleate organisms that live by decomposing and absorbing the organic… …   Universalium

  • coral root — noun a wildflower of the genus Corallorhiza growing from a hard mass of rhizomes associated with a fungus that aids in absorbing nutrients from the forest floor • Hypernyms: ↑orchid, ↑orchidaceous plant • Hyponyms: ↑spotted coral root,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • coral spot — noun : a disease of trees and shrubs caused by a fungus (Nectria cinnabarina) which produces cankers on the twigs and branches …   Useful english dictionary

  • club fungus — noun a club shaped coral fungus • Hypernyms: ↑coral fungus * * * noun : a fungus of the family Clavariaceae * * * any basidiomycete fungus belonging to the family Clavariaceae. [1905 10] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Jelly fungus — Taxobox name = Heterobasidiomycetes image width = 250px image caption = A jelly fungus ( Tremella cf. fuciformis ) regnum = Fungi divisio = Basidiomycota subdivisio = Agaricomycotina classis = Heterobasidiomycetes subdivision ranks = Orders… …   Wikipedia

  • coralfungus — coral fungus n. Any of numerous fungi, especially of the family Clavariaceae, whose often brightly colored spore bearing structures are club shaped to intricately branched and resemble coral. * * * …   Universalium

  • Clavicorona pyxidata — Taxobox | name = Clavicorona pyxidata image width = 250px regnum = Fungi divisio = Basidiomycota classis = Agaricomycetes ordo = Russulales familia = Auriscalpiaceae genus = Clacicorona species = C. pyxidata binomial = Clavicorona pyxidata… …   Wikipedia

  • Ramaria formosa — Taxobox name = Ramaria formosa regnum = Fungi phylum = Basidiomycota classis = Agaricomycetes ordo = Cantharellales familia = Gomphaceae genus = Ramaria species = R. formosa binomial = Ramaria formosa binomial authority = (Pers.) Quél.… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”