THE CORAL FUNGI 



clustered; some are joined by their bases, and others are 

 very much branched. Among the different colors seen 

 are white, yellow, violet, red, and brown. Some have 

 red at the tips only. 



One of the handsomest of them is the yellow one 

 seen at the beginning of this chapter. It grows from 

 four to six inches high. There is a stout stem which 

 goes down deep 

 into the ground. 

 From this grow 

 the branches, at 

 first stout ones, 

 and then slender 

 and longer ones. 

 These end in many 

 tips. When young 

 the branches are 

 red, pink, or 



Orange. As the The Elegant Clavaria. 



plant grows older 



the color fades to a light yellowish or creamy 

 buff. The spores are on the outside and probably 

 give the fungus its color. The whole plant is 

 very brittle. Therefore, it has to be handled with 

 great care. 



This plant grows in the woods among the dead 

 leaves and decayed logs. The dimness of the forest is 

 lighted up by its bright-yellow branches. You see 



89 



