# Coral Fungus (*Clavulina*)

Coral Fungus looks like little corals from the ocean! It can be white or colorful and grows on the forest floor.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forest floor
- **Also known as:** Coral Mushroom, White Coral, White Coral Fungus

![Coral Fungus](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424802/objects/5165.jpg)

## Appearance

The Coral Fungus is a unique fungus with an upright, highly branched structure, resembling sea coral on the forest floor. It typically appears white to cream-colored, sometimes with purple or yellowish tints, making it stand out among dead leaves.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Basidiomycota
- **Class:** Agaricomycetes
- **Order:** Cantharellales
- **Family:** Clavulinaceae
- **Genus:** Clavulina

## Interesting facts

- Despite its name, it lives on land, not in the ocean like real coral!
- Its branches don't have gills; they release spores from their smooth surfaces!
- Many types of Coral Fungus are safe to eat, though they don't taste like much!
- Some species look like tiny, ghostly white antlers growing on the forest floor!

## Special abilities

- **Forest Friendships:** Coral Fungus can form special partnerships with tree roots, sharing nutrients to help both thrive in the forest soil.
- **Branching Beauty:** Coral Fungus has a branching structure that helps it spread out, increasing the surface area to absorb more food from its surroundings.
- **Spore Spreaders:** Coral Fungus can release tiny spores into the air, which are like seeds, to float away and grow new fungi far away.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 2-15 cm
- **Edible:** edible
- **Growth Substrate:** soil
- **Season:** Late summer to fall
- **Spore Color:** White

## Ecological connections

- **Symbiotic with:** [Norway Spruce](https://www.snappit.app/explore/norway-spruce) (*Picea abies*) — They share nutrients, helping both forest partners grow strong.
- **Eaten by:** Spanish Slug (*Arion lusitanicus*) — Slugs enjoy munching on its fleshy, branched structures.
- **Depends on:** [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) — It helps decompose fallen oak leaves and wood, enriching the forest soil.

## Traits

- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Coral Fungus?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Coral Fungus?

2-15 cm

### Is Coral Fungus edible?

edible

### Where is Coral Fungus usually found?

Forest floor

### What does Coral Fungus grow on?

soil

### When is Coral Fungus in season?

Late summer to fall

### What color are Coral Fungus spores?

White

## Where to spot

- [Fork Factory Brook](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fork-factory-brook) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [Coral Fungus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral-fungus)