Ramariaceae

Coral fungi
Ramaria stricta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Phylum:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Clavariaceae'"
Genera
Clavaria Clavulinopsis Mucronella Ramariopsis

Clavulinopsis corallinorosacea, Mt Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia

The Ramariaceae are a family of fungi in the Agaricales order of mushrooms. Collectively, they are commonly known as coral fungi due to their resemblance to aquatic coral, although other vernacular names include antler fungi, finger fungi, worm mold, and spaghetti mushroom are sometimes used for similar reasons.

Initially all classified in the genus formerly known as Clavaria, they were later split out into many genera including Clavicorona, Clavulina, Clavulinopsis, Macrotyphula, Ramaria and Ramariopsis.

Some superficially similar species are not so closely related; the fairy club genus Clavariadelphus, Ramaria and Clavulina belong to the family Gomphaceae, Scytinopogon and Lentaria belong in the Thelephorales order, 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 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.

See also

• Mushroom coral - marine animals that resemble fungi