Calocera viscosa is a common species throughout Europe and has also been recorded from North America, Asia, and Australia.

[7] The species was legitimately described as Clavaria viscosa from Germany in 1794 by South African-born mycologist Christiaan Hendrik Persoon.

A white fungus from Italy was described as Calocera cavarae in 1896, but later studies suggested that this was only an aberrant form of C. viscosa lacking yellow pigments.

[8][9] Calocera viscosa forms bright golden to orange-yellow (rarely white), firmly gelatinous fruit bodies up to 10 centimetres (4 in) tall, with a paler stem and coral-like branches.

[10][11] Similar species include Calocera cornea and C. furcata, as well as Ramariopsis corcea and Clavulinopsis corniculata.