About this fungus
Grey Coral Fungus is a fungus in the Clavulinaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A small grey to grey-brown coral fungus forming branched tufts on woodland soil, often with flattened or blunt pale tips.
What to check
Look for repeated upright branching, a grey wrinkled surface and blunt or flattened tips. It grows from soil or litter and has no cap, gills, ring or volva. Exact identification within pale and grey coral fungi may require microscopy.
Variation
Colour ranges from pale ash-grey to grey-brown and may become darker or take on a violet cast when affected by parasitic fungi. Branching density also varies.
Lookalikes
Wrinkled Club is usually whiter and much less branched. Crested Coral has divided, crest-like tips. Other Clavulina species can overlap when old, damaged or parasitised.
Habitat and range
Mycorrhizal on soil and leaf litter with broadleaf or conifer trees in northern temperate woodland, often near paths.
Food safety
Edible.
Use this profile to learn what to examine and compare, not as proof that a mushroom is safe to eat. Check the whole specimen and every important lookalike before reaching an identification.