Species details

Beautiful coral fungus

Ramaria formosa

Poisonous
Beautiful coral fungus – Ramaria formosa

Photo: Jose Angel Urquia Goitia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · License

Description

A large branched coral fungus with pink-orange branches and yellowish tips.

Identification features

Colours fade with age; consumption can cause strong gastrointestinal upset and a purgative effect.

Identification checklist

Check the entire fruitbody for identification. A large branched coral fungus with pink-orange branches and yellowish tips. Colours fade with age; consumption can cause strong gastrointestinal upset and a purgative effect. Typical habitat: Deciduous and mixed woodland, often with beech on richer soils.

How to separate similar species

Compare especially with these similar species: Ramaria botrytis, Ramaria flavescens. Check the combination of cap shape and colour, spore-bearing surface, stem, flesh changes and habitat. A single feature or photograph is not enough; if the key characters do not match the description, do not treat the identification as confirmed.

Habitat

Deciduous and mixed woodland, often with beech on richer soils.

Fruiting period

July, August, September, October

Similar species

Extended-description sources