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Ramaria rasilispora var. scatesiana
Marr and Stuntz
Ramaria of Western Washington p. 109. 1973.
Common Name: none
Sporocarp
Fruiting body 7.0-15.0 cm tall, 7.0-14.0 cm broad, arising from a robust stipe, comprising one-third to one-half the total height; branching pattern compact, the tips very short; surface of branches glabrous, whitish, the tips cream-yellow, in age and with drying, becoming cream-buff overall; context fleshy-fibrous; odor and taste mild.
Stipe
Stipe up to 8.0 cm tall, 7.0 cm broad, tapered below; surface glabrous, whitish; context white, firm, unchanging.
Spores
Spores 7.5-10.0 x 3.0-3.5 µm, cylindrical in face-view and profile, the latter slightly inequilateral, smooth, thin-walled, hilar appendage well-developed, inamyloid; spore deposit not seen.
Habitat
Gregarious, often in lines or arcs in duff of montane conifers; fruiting in late spring; common.
Edibility
Edible and good, but see "comments."
Comments
This pale-yellow coral of montane regions is found commonly in the spring. The cauliflower-like fruiting bodies are edible, but infrequently collected for the table because of adhering dirt and debris. Two varieties are known, Ramaria rasilispora var. scatesiana, described above, and Ramaria rasilispora var. rasilispora which has more yellowish to yellowish-orange branches. Another yellowish, closely related coral is Ramaria magnipes. It also fruits in the spring, sometimes with Ramaria rasilispora, and is told apart by its larger size and spores.
References
Exeter, R.L., Norvell, L. & Cázares, E. (2006). Ramaria of the Pacific Northwestern United States. United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management: Salem, OR. 157 p.
Marr, C.D. & Stuntz, D.E. (1973). Ramaria of Western Washington (Bibliotheca Mycologica, Band 38). J. Cramer: Vaduz, Liechtenstein. 232 p.
Other Descriptions and Photos
(D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)
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.jpg "Ramaria rasilispora var. scatesiana © Fred Stevens -- Click for Larger Image")
