About this fungus
Meadow Coral Fungus is a fungus in the Clavariaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A small yellow to ochre coral fungus with several upright branches rising from a shared base, often in short grass.
What to check
Look for solid, brittle fruit bodies that repeatedly fork into two and end in blunt or slightly curved tips. They grow from soil rather than wood and have no gills, pores, cap, ring or volva. Microscopy may be needed within this unresolved species complex.
Variation
Fresh fruit bodies are yellow to deep yellow and become ochre or tan-brown with age. Branching can be compact in short turf and more open in longer vegetation.
Lookalikes
Clavulinopsis fusiformis is usually unbranched or forks only near pointed tips. Yellow Stagshorn, Calocera viscosa, is rubbery and grows from conifer wood. Other yellow coral fungi may need spore characters or DNA for separation.
Habitat and range
In Europe it is characteristic of nutrient-poor, unimproved grassland, old lawns and pastures, with occasional woodland records. Reports from other regions are often woodland-based and may include unresolved members of the complex.
Food safety
Edibility is uncertain or disputed.
Photographs
zaca / CC BY-SA 3.0Species to compare
Similar mushrooms to compare against: