The Forestry Forum

Hey I saw in another thread, I think by Bro. Noble, a mention of coral mushrooms.  Since it was in september, I assume it wasn't a typo meaning morel.  I am from the same part of the country and have never heard of them.  Any insight?

They grow in the fall,  greyish pink and look like coral.  They get 6 or 8" high.

I did a quick google search.  Found some pics but no good info on habitat and/or whether or not it is eatable.  Do you eat em.  Treat em like morels?

They, like morels,  are easy to identify and are good to eat.  I prefer the morels,  but glad to find either.  They probably aren't as common as morels,  but when you do find them,  there is usually enough to have all you want plus enough to give away or freeze.  Seems like all I've ever found were on a hillside (slope in any direction),  but then the only ground we have that's not hillside is the bottom of hollars and the tops of ridges ;)

There are 20+ types of coral mushroom in the USA. Some are very good to eat, some are not so good.  Their ar no reports of anyone ever getting killed by coral mushrooms BUT some coral mushrooms can have a STRONG laxitive effect ::)
Be carefull only eat mushrooms after you are 100% sure of the identity.
PS Yes morels are "easy" to identify, but people get confused and pick false morels which will kill you.  False morel poisoning is the #1 mushroom "accident" in the country.
Max