Bitter coral or Upright coral
How they differ, how to recognize them and which is more dangerous — a mushroom comparison
The short answer
Bitter coral and Upright coral are similar species that can be mixed up while foraging. The main visible difference: size: Bitter coral — medium (5–15 cm), Upright coral — small (up to 5 cm). The mushrooms also differ in the following features: cap color, smell, substrate.
Bitter coral
Ramaria fennica
Upright coral
Ramaria stricta
📊 Comparing characteristics
| Characteristic | Bitter coral | Upright coral |
|---|---|---|
| Edibility class | Bitter coral Inedible | Upright coral Inedible |
| Season | Bitter coral SummerAutumn | Upright coral SummerAutumn |
| Use | Bitter coral Not eaten | Upright coral Not eaten |
| Size | Bitter coral Medium (5–15 cm) | Upright coral Small (up to 5 cm) |
| Cap color | Bitter coral GreyVioletYellow | Upright coral YellowBrown |
| Cap shape | Bitter coral Irregular | Upright coral Irregular |
| Cap surface | Bitter coral Smooth | Upright coral Smooth |
| Taste | Bitter coral Bitter | Upright coral Bitter |
| Smell | Bitter coral Radish-like | Upright coral PleasantAnise |
| Flesh color change | Bitter coral Darkens | Upright coral Darkens |
| Hymenophore | Bitter coral Smooth | Upright coral Smooth |
| Stem | Bitter coral Central | Upright coral Central |
| Ring (veil) | Bitter coral No ring | Upright coral No ring |
| Volva | Bitter coral No volva | Upright coral No volva |
| Substrate | Bitter coral SoilForest litter | Upright coral Dead woodOn wood |
| Nutrition type | Bitter coral Mycorrhizal | Upright coral Saprotroph |
| Partner trees | Bitter coral SpruceBeech | Upright coral BeechOakHornbeam |
📅 Seasonality
Bitter coral
Fruiting season
August – October
Upright coral
Fruiting season
August – October
🔬 Morphology
Cap
Bitter coral
A bushy fruiting body with no cap. Size 8-12 cm tall, 6-10 cm across. Branches lacy, moderately thick, with a characteristic violet-gray to dingy lilac color near the base; higher up yellowish-cream with ochre tips. The dark color of the base is a diagnostic feature.
Upright coral
A bushy fruiting body with no cap. Size 5-10 cm tall, 3-7 cm across. Branches thin, straight, parallel, rising vertically, like a little brush or broom. Color ochre-yellow, becoming brownish-yellow to brown with age. The branch tips are thin, pointed, the same color, often darker at the base.
Hymenophore
Bitter coral
The spore-bearing layer covers the surface of the branches. Spore print ochre-yellow.
Upright coral
The spore-bearing layer covers the surface of the branches. Spore print ochre.
Stem
Bitter coral
Shared base short, 2-4 cm tall, 1-2 cm across, violet-gray to dingy lilac, dividing into numerous forked branches.
Upright coral
Shared base short, thin, 1-3 cm tall, 0.5-1 cm across, ochre-white with fine felty threads at the bottom (where it attaches to the substrate).
Flesh
Bitter coral
Flesh firm, whitish at first, quickly darkening to blue-violet or violet-black when damaged — a characteristic reaction and an important diagnostic. Taste bitter, astringent.
Upright coral
Flesh thin, limp, yellowish. Quickly turns brown when pressed or cut — a characteristic reaction and an important diagnostic. Taste distinctly bitter, astringent.
Smell
Bitter coral
Faintly mushroomy with a hint of radish or damp soil.
Upright coral
Faintly mushroomy with a hint of anise or fresh conifer cones.
📍 Habitats
Bitter coral
Upright coral
👀 Similar mushrooms — don't mix them up!
❓ Frequently asked questions
Can Bitter coral and Upright coral be mixed up?
How to tell Bitter coral from Upright coral?
Is Upright coral edible?
When do Bitter coral and Upright coral grow?
Sources
- [1]Вікіпедія (українська)
- [2]Атлас грибів України, Зеров Д.К. (1979)
- [3]MycoBank Database
- [4]Index Fungorum
- [5]GBIF
- [6]iNaturalist Ukraine