The
genus ''Ramaria'' comprises approximately 200
species of
coral fungi
The clavarioid fungi are a group of fungi in the '' Basidiomycota'' typically having erect, simple or branched basidiocarps (fruit bodies) that are formed on the ground, on decaying vegetation, or on dead wood. They are colloquially called club fu ...
. Several, such as ''
Ramaria flava
''Ramaria flava'', is a yellow edible 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
Rio Grande do Sul (, , ; ...
'', are edible and picked in Europe, though they are easily confused with several mildly poisonous species capable of causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; these include ''
R. formosa'' and ''
R. pallida''. Three ''Ramaria'' species have been demonstrated to contain a very unusual organoarsenic compound homoarsenocholine.
Etymology
The genus name is derived from
Latin ''rāmus'' meaning ''branch''.
Description
Basidiocarps may range in color from bright yellow, red, or orange, to purple, white, and shades of tan. Color changes after bruising occur in some species.
The
spore
In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...
s of ''Ramaria'' species are yellow-brown to rusty-brown in mass deposit and range from smooth to warted to
echinulate
The following is a glossary of scientific terminology, terms used in the description of lichens, composite organisms that arise from algae or cyanobacteria living among Hypha, filaments of multiple fungus species in a Mutualism (biology), mutuali ...
or
striate; spore size may range considerably, and ornamentation, when present, is