Ramaria flava

Description

Ramaria flava is rare a yellow coral mushroom found widely in Europe. Also known by its local name changle it is also native to temperate areas of southern Chile and south of Brazil (state of Rio Grande do Sul). The outer shape of this mushroom looks a bit like cauliflower. There are two main parts of this type of mushrooms - the body and the small branches. The body is thick, fragile and usually has a yellowish-white color. The branches usually have a bright yellow color and are densely packed when young. When older, they are a bit more distanced. The branches mostly stand upright and are soft and fragile. The spore of this species is dark yellow, sometimes with a tone of brown coloration.

Ramaria flava is reported to be edible (after 15 minutes of boiling, boiled, fried) but of only moderate quality. However, it could easily be confused with Ramaria formosa, which is mildly poisonous, causing stomach pains and diarrhea if eaten.

Common names: Changle, Dzeltenā korallene (Latvia).

Mushroom Identification

1. Fruitbody

   When fully developed the whole fruitbody is usually 6 to 20 cm tall, and up to 15 cm across. Lemon-yellow to sulfur-yellow coral with many dense branches; the short stalk is 5-8 cm long and 4-5 cm across. The tips of the terminal branches bruise reddish; they are usually either blunt or have two or three points. When old this coral turns ochre progressing from the tips downwards.

2. Spores

   Ramaria flava var. flava has oblong-ellipsoidal to subfusiform spores, 11-18 x 4-6.5µm, with a rough surface; inamyloid. Ramaria flava var. parvispora has similar spores (shown here) but much smaller at 7-10 x 3.5-5µm.

3. Spore Print

   Orange-yellow (ochraceous).

4. Odor and Taste

   Odor not distinctive; taste mild.

5. Habitat & Ecological Role

   Mycorrhizal with hardwoods, in mixed or Beech woodlands.

Look-Alikes

1. Ramaria stricta

   White or cream and its branches are more upright.

2. Clavaria amoena

   Distinguished by their white spore prints; the spores of Ramaria fungi are yellow or ochre in mass.

History

This coral fungus was described in 1763 by German naturalist Jacob Christian Schaeffer, who gave it the scientific name Clavaria flava. It was French mycologist Lucien Quélet who, in 1888, redescribed this species under its currently-accepted scientific name Ramaria flava.

Synonyms of Ramaria flava include Clavaria flava Schaeff., Coralloides flavus Tourn. ex Battarra, and Corallium flavum (Schaeff.) G.Hahn.

Ramaria, the generic name, comes from Ram- meaning branch, with the suffix -aria meaning possessing or furnished with. Ramaria coral species are indeed furnished with numerous branches.

The specific epithet flava means yellow.

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Bernie (Public Domain)

Photo 2 - Author: Jerzy Opiola (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo 3 - Author: Jerzy Opioła (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo 4 - Author: Bernie (Public Domain)