Scientific name: Artomyces Pyxidetus
About coral mushroom:
Coral mushroom is a coral fungus and called crown coral. They grow only dead and dying hardwood of oak, aspen, poplar trees and also appear in summer time in Minnesota. They are favourite any special type of menus. They can be found the northern Canada, China, Russia, Costa Rica and Western Europe. Coral mushroom is also called dog hair, those resemble under sea coral in large quantity. They are found in different color – pink, yellow and white. The crown tipped coral mushrooms are used as a garnish for soap and seafood items. They contain protein, vitamin, potassium and other antibacterial properties.
Description of coral mushroom:
Coral mushrooms are small or medium size and the length 5- 12 cm, wide 2-10 cm. The fruiting body of this mushroom is smooth and fragile texture and they have an earthy flavour. The branches are 1-5 mm thick, smooth, from white to pale pink color. The base is 1-3 cm long fuzzy and brownish. The fungus produces the hard coral like body on growing wood. The crown tipped corals are always white where they attach to the woods are brown. It feature is cystedia and amyloid spores with fairly tough and white flesh.
Storage:
Firstly clean the dirts of mushrooms with water and break into small clusters, swish them with cold water. Store them in a paper bag in fridge for six weeks.
Taste and use:
The odour of mushrooms are faintly dug potatoes and earthy and mild taste. The mushrooms need to be washed and cut into small slices and agitated in a bowl of water. They can be fried to serve as a sautéed with fish, sea food, crab, beef, pork. We can also prepare such type of items like crispy fried crown coral mushroom, wild mushrooms with breadcrumbs, coral mushroom soup with white lentills.