Salmon coralRamaria formosa

The salmon coral (Ramaria formosa), also called the pink or yellow-tipped coral fungus, is a poisonous coral fungus. Eating it causes nausea, vomiting, cramping stomach pain and diarrhoea. The poisonings are usually mild, and the substance behind them is still unknown. This species and the similar pallid coral are the reason we list every Ramaria in our catalogue as inedible.

The fruit body looks like a small coral bush, 7 to 20 cm tall, occasionally up to 30 cm, and up to 15 cm across. Dense branches rise from a thick, whitish base. In young specimens they are salmon pink to orange-pink with yellow tips, and that pink with yellow is how it's recognised. The pink fades fast, though, and an old fruit body turns ochre and looks much like any other Ramaria. The flesh can turn wine red or blackish where it's broken or pressed.

Why does it rule out the other corals too? Old Eastern European books treated the yellow, golden and rosso corals as edible. Telling them from the salmon and pallid corals is very hard, often possible only under a microscope, especially once the colours have faded. Vienna's mushroom advice service tells non-specialists not to collect coral fungi for food, Norway's 2024 list marks every Ramaria as "not food", and neither the German nor the Polish list of edible mushrooms includes a single Ramaria. The mistake happens in the woods, and no amount of cooking undoes it.

It grows on the ground in broadleaved woods, forming mycorrhiza with beech and oak, and occasionally turns up near conifers. You'll find it singly or in small groups from late summer to mid-autumn, with most European records in early autumn. It is recorded most often in Slovenia, Spain and France. In Britain it is rare and listed as Vulnerable.

What should you do if you feel ill after eating coral fungi? These poisonings usually pass on their own, but heavy vomiting and diarrhoea dehydrate the body quickly. Sip water and see a doctor. If a child or an elderly person is affected, if the vomiting won't stop, or if you're not sure which mushrooms were in the dish, call emergency services on 112 (999 in the UK). Keep any leftovers or photos, as they help the doctors.