About this fungus
Violet Coral is a fungus in the Clavariaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A compact coral-like tuft of slender, repeatedly branched violet to amethyst fruit bodies growing from soil among moss or litter.
What to check
Look for smooth branches that divide several times and end in rounded tips. The flesh is fragile, and there are no gills, pores, ring or volva. Colour and branching alone are not enough for certainty because close violet coral fungi may require microscopy.
Variation
Fresh fruit bodies range from lilac and violet to deeper amethyst-purple, sometimes with pinkish tones. Older or weathered branches can fade considerably.
Lookalikes
Clavulina amethystina can be similarly coloured and branched but differs microscopically. Alloclavaria purpurea is usually duller and much less branched. Other regional violet coral fungi also need to be considered outside Europe and eastern North America.
Habitat and range
Found on soil in woodland, often among moss, and sometimes in grassy places near trees. Its nutritional mode is not securely established from field observations, so the entry does not assume simple saprotrophy.
Food safety
Inedible.
Species to compare
Similar mushrooms to compare against: