Fauna
Fungus

Coral Fungus

Ramaria sanguinea

Also known as Bleeding Coral, Bloody Coral

Bleeding coral fungi produce intricate, branch-like fruiting bodies that emerge from moist forest soils during late summer and autumn. These mushrooms derive their common name from the distinct reddish staining that appears where pale branches or stems are bruised or damaged. As mycorrhizal fungi, they form vital underground partnerships with the roots of surrounding trees, exchanging water and minerals for sugars.

FungusCoral-likeWoodland
Coral Fungus reference1 / 2
(c) Daniel Ghyselinck, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMycorrhizal
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Fungus gnats
  • Small rodents
ThreatsHabitat loss, deforestation, soil compaction
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed woodland floors, leaf litter
Life spanFruiting body lasts 1–3 weeks; underground mycelium persists indefinitely
Classification
  1. FamilyGomphaceae
  2. SpeciesRamaria sanguinea
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many coral mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never ingest wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Observe Staining: Gently scratch the base to see the reddish discoloration that gives this species its name.
  • Examine Forest Soil: Search around mature hardwoods in damp leaf litter after autumn rains.
  • Leave Intact: Keep the fruiting body in place so it can release spores into the surrounding forest.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…