Salmon Coral Fungus

Ramaria ochraceosalmonicolor is a coral fungus that looks just like cauliflower florets.  They don’t have gills or pores and grow to about 100mm, these were only 60mm tall when I spotted them.  These mainly grow on the ground rather than on rotting wood, unlike the antlered jelly fungus.   The salmon coral fungus is another Ectomycorrhizal fungus growing with trees.  The fungi get carbon and other organic substances from tree and in return, help the trees take up water and mineral salts.  They also helps fight soil pathogens, parasites and predators like nematodes.  Many trees depend on their fungal partners especially in areas of poor soil and this relationship can be affected by repeat burning.  I have been looking to see if there is a different level of fungal activity between the areas burnt in 2010 and the rest.  So far I have not seen any evidence that the fire has negatively impacted the fungi, with the different types of fungi appearing in all areas of the forest.

This brave person tried eating the salmon coral fungus- even though it has been known to cause diarrhea.  His conclusion after doing more research on similar species was: “In the balance, I suggest that this fungus is far too difficult to identify to consider it edible and there is some potential for it to be lethal.  Despite my experience of consuming a small portion of a cooked specimen and surviving, I suggest that it be considered an inedible species.”