Yellow horned (Ramaria flava)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Phallomycetidae (Veselkovye)
- Order: Gomphales
- Family: Gomphaceae (Gomfovy)
- Genus: Ramaria (Ramaria)
- Species: Ramaria flava (Yellow horned)
- Other names for the mushroom:
- Ramaria yellow
- Coral yellow
- Deer horns
Other names:
Horny yellow
Bear paw
Deer horns
Coral yellow
Description
The fruit body of Ramaria is yellow, reaching a height of 15-20 cm and a diameter of 10-15 cm. Numerous branched dense bushy branches with a cylindrical shape grow from a thick white "stump". They often have two blunt tops and improperly truncated ends. The fruit body has all shades of yellow. Under the branches and near the "stump", the color is sulfur-yellow. When pressed, the color changes to wine-brownish. The pulp is wet, off-white, in the "stump" - marbled, does not change color. Outside, the base is white, with a yellowish tinge and reddish spots of various sizes, most often found in fruit bodies growing under coniferous trees. The smell is pleasant, slightly grassy, the taste is weak. The tops of old mushrooms are bitter.
Spore powder ocher yellow.
Habitat and growth time
Horned beetle grows on the ground in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests in August - September, in groups and singly. It is especially abundant in the forests of Karelia. Found in the mountains of the Caucasus, as well as in the countries of Central Europe.
Twins
The hornbeam mushroom is very similar to the golden yellow coral, the differences are noticeable only under a microscope, as well as on Ramaria aurea, which is also edible and has the same properties. At an early age, it has a similarity in appearance and color with Ramaria obtusissima, Ramaria flavobrunnescens is smaller in size.
Note
The word flava in the name of the mushroom means "yellow". Coral mushrooms are considered Basidiomycetes. They form spores on the fruit layer, on the outside of the "knots", everywhere. For the most part, coral is good, edible mushrooms, but among them there are also poisonous ones.
This ramaria is considered an edible mushroom, but certain precautions must be taken when eating it. First of all, only young specimens should be collected and the base should be used, since the twigs are bitter. Ripe mushrooms are not edible at all because of the bitterness.