What does a coral mushroom look like and what does it describe? (+25 photos)

Our country's forests are rich in a variety of mushrooms, each with its own distinctive appearance, nutritional properties, and growing conditions. The coral mushroom is one of the most unusual members of the fungal kingdom. A few years ago, such specimens were quite rare, but today they are widely cultivated and used in cooking, cosmetology, and medicine. They are also of scientific interest due to their unusual structure.

Characteristic features of the variety

Despite its name, this specimen has nothing to do with the sea. Rather, its name reflects its external characteristics. Besides its scientific name, Tremella fuciformis, this specimen has many other names:

• gelatinous;
• ice;
• nautical
• snow;
• royal;
• silver ear.

Appearance and photo

Among all the species, it stands out for its exotic appearance—it has translucent, lacy branches and a coral-like shape. The cultivar is distinguished by its irregularly shaped body, numerous sinuous branches and shoots, and numerous folds.

The size can vary depending on the species, from 2 to 15 cm. The surface is most often white or pale yellow, though bright yellow specimens are also common. A photo of a coral mushroom provides a clearer idea of ​​its appearance, complementing the description provided.

Morphology of coral fungi

The mushroom's stem is massive and dense, deeply embedded in the soil, and white or yellowish in color. It is cylindrical in shape and 7-10 cm in diameter. The flesh is crisp, light in color, and slightly dry, with a neutral or herbal aroma and may have a slightly bitter aftertaste.

The branches are pointed, tapering toward the top, and may have comb-shaped tips. The fruiting body is highly branched and bushy. Depending on the species, the branches may be forked or fan-shaped. Some species may have a spherical fruiting body consisting of numerous wavy plates. Spores are found on one surface of the plates. Reproduction is via spore powder.

Consumption

Not all varieties are suitable for culinary use. The following are not edible due to their rubbery flesh:

1. Kalocera sticky.
2. Xylaria hypoxylon.
3. Horn-shaped horn.

Other species are used in cooking, but only when young. Old mushrooms are very tough and unsuitable for cooking.

Rules and meeting places

They are found in mixed and coniferous forests. They grow in areas with increased moisture, most often not on the soil, but on rotten stumps and wood, and are also found on the branches of deciduous trees (linden, birch, aspen). They can grow in groups or singly.

To safely harvest the mushrooms without depleting the population, use a knife to cut only the above-ground portions, avoiding the roots or uprooting them. It's best to go into the forest early in the day before they heat up in the sun. After harvesting, they should be processed and prepared as quickly as possible.

Avoid picking old or discolored specimens. Furthermore, if the summer is rainy, picking and drying them is not recommended: they will lose their flavor and release toxins.

Types, their descriptions and photos

There are several species of coral mushrooms, each with distinct appearance and taste. Coral mushrooms are most often white:

1. Alpine blackberry. This edible organism has the following varieties: golden, yellow, ligulate, and racemose. It is most often found in coniferous forests, on spruce, pine, and fir stumps.

   

2. Bear's paw. It is distinguished by its surface covered with yellow spores, white, marbled flesh, dichotomous structure, and a light herbal aroma. It reaches 20 cm in height, with two cylindrical branches emerging from the central stem.

   

3. Lingual horn. It's most commonly found in coniferous forests. It grows to a height of no more than 10 cm and is typically pale yellow in color. The shape of the shoots vaguely resembles the shape of a human tongue.

   

4. Wrinkled Clavulina. The appendages resemble animal horns, their tips becoming blunt as they grow. The organisms reach a diameter of 0.4 mm and a height of 15 cm.

   

Distinction from false, inedible mushrooms

There are several species that resemble coral mushrooms but are not edible. These include:

1. Calocera glutinosa. The fruiting body of the Calocera is bushy but sparsely branched, dark yellow or orange in color. It grows both singly and in groups and is found in forests from July to October. The species is inedible due to its viscous and rubbery flesh.

   

2. Xylaria hypoxylon. Representatives of the species, most often growing in clusters, are characterized by pointed, forked branches, white flesh, and weakly branched fruiting bodies. Xylaria's flesh is too hard to be used in cooking.

   

3. Horntail corniculatus. The fruiting body is fragile, covered in spores, and can range in color from gray-yellow to bright orange, with a white base. It is most common in forests with high humidity. The pulp is brittle and has a floury odor.

   

Useful properties and restrictions on use

Ice mushrooms are rich in vitamins, making them frequently used in medicine and cosmetology. In medicine, they act as natural antibiotics and antidepressants, and are used to make medications that stimulate the body's production of antibodies that destroy viruses and bacteria.

In addition, they are recommended for use in Alzheimer's disease. Chinese medicine includes their use as a treatment for tumors and a source of vitamins during the recovery period after chemotherapy. These mushrooms are also recommended for nervous disorders and immunodeficiency.

Other useful properties include the ability to:

• lowering cholesterol levels;
• relief of inflammation;
• reducing exposure to radiation;
• elimination of toxins;
• liver protection.

Despite the many positive effects of these mushrooms, there are a number of restrictions on their consumption:

1. Tendency to allergic reactions.
2. Use in a mono-diet. Due to the high protein content of this product, it may alter metabolism and disrupt oxidative processes. Its use in the diet should be moderate.

   

3. It's not recommended to eat mushrooms picked in areas with poor environmental conditions. They easily absorb harmful substances, so it's not recommended to collect them or use them in cooking.
4. They are strictly contraindicated for people with pancreatitis, dysbacteriosis, and individual intolerance. They are not recommended for children under 14, as their enzymatic system is not yet fully developed.

The maximum frequency of mushroom consumption in the diet for a healthy person is three times a week in moderate quantities.

Recipes and cooking features

There are simple recipes that don't require much expense or advanced culinary skills. For example:

1. Snack. To prepare it, in addition to 70 grams of mushrooms, you'll need a bell pepper, one fresh cucumber, sesame oil, a clove of garlic, and three tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice. The cucumber, pepper, and garlic should be very finely chopped. Soak the mushrooms in cold water for 15-20 minutes, add salt, and then simmer in boiling water for 5 minutes.

   

   When they're ready, use a knife to cut off the yellowish part on the underside. Then, mix all the ingredients, add lemon juice and oil, and let them sit for an hour. This appetizer can be eaten with meat, squid, crab, and shrimp.

2. Coral mushrooms with meat. To prepare this dish, you'll need 100 grams of mushrooms, green onions and onions (3 greens and 1 onion), 2-3 cloves of garlic, salt and pepper to taste, a tablespoon of vegetable oil, a teaspoon of sesame oil, and meat of your choice—pork, chicken, or beef. Rinse the mushrooms in cold water, then boil them for 2-3 minutes. Then drain them in a colander, rinse with cold water, and cut into equal pieces.

   

   Then, place them in a deep bowl, sprinkle with pepper and salt. Cut the meat into small pieces, season with salt and pepper, and let it rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, chop the onion and garlic, heat the olive oil in a frying pan, and fry the meat until golden brown. Then add the mushrooms and continue frying for another 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, sprinkle with green onions, and drizzle with sesame oil. This dish can be served with any side dish or over rice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS_uw9RBRlg

Answers to frequently asked questions

Coral mushrooms raise a lot of questions for inexperienced mushroom pickers:

These mushrooms have an exotic appearance and a wide range of uses. However, to avoid harming your health, they should be consumed in moderation.