Clavulinopsis umbrinella - Beige Coral

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Also known by its synonym Ramariopsis umbrinella, and formerly recorded as Clavulinopsis cineroides, this rather rare coral fungus is found mainly in neutral or basic grassland.

It is easy to miss this rather rare but very attractive coral fungus, because it is often shorter than the grass in which it grows, and although in side view the pale trunks and lower branches stand out well against the darker grass stems, from above it is less obvious.

Identification guide

	Description Branching stems arising from a common thickened base; stems usually branch dichotomously each branch eventually terminating in two (but occasionally more) blunt tips; pinkish beige, maturing tan-brown; base paler.
Size	The individual clubs are typicaly 4 to 8cm tall.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	Growing from the soil in short grassland.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	Uncommon to rare.
Similar species	Clavulinopsis fusiformis usually forms much more dense tufts; its yellowish clubs are lateraly compressed and only occasionally forked. Clavulina coralloides is much paler and occurs beneath deciduous and coniferous trees; very often beside footpaths.