Ramaria stricta (Fries) Quélet
Fl. Myc. 464. 1888.

Common Name: none

• Sporocarp

  Fruiting body up to 12 cm tall, 4-8 cm broad, composed of erect, more or less parallel branches with slender, pointed tips; surface glabrous, pinkish-buff, the branch tips pale-yellowish, becoming vinaceous-brown where bruised; context buff-brown, pliant, darkening when injured; odor indistinct to slightly aromatic, taste usually bitter.

• Stipe

  Stipe 1-2 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm broad, sometimes lacking; when present, pallid, tomentose, context tough, discoloring light-brown when bruised.

• Spores

  Spores 7-9.5 µm, ellipsoid, slightly warted; spore print not seen.

• Habitat

  Solitary or in small groups on downed conifer/hardwood logs; fruiting from late fall to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Inedible; tough and often bitter.

• Comments

  Ramaria stricta is recognized by an upright stature, more or less parallel, dichotomous branching pattern and lignicolous habit. The typically pinkish-brown branches with slender pale-yellow tips are also important field characters. Several other coral fungi in the Bay Area grow on wood or buried wood, but all differ either in color or structure.

• References

  Corner, E.J.H. (1950). A Monograph of Clavaria and Allied Genera. Oxford University Press: London, England. 740 p.
  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
  • Ronald L. Exeter: Ramaria stricta (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Ramaria stricta (CP)
  • Currie D. Marr: Ramaria stricta (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Ramaria stricta (CP)
  • K. Maruyama: Ramaria stricta (CP)
  • George Barron's Fungi of Canada (East): Ramaria stricta (D & CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 649 (D)
  • Breitenbach & Kränzlin (vol. 2): sp. 475 (D , I, & CP)
  • Jordan: p. 89 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 409 (D), plate 733 (CP)
  • Marr & Stuntz: p. 147 (D), plate X, fig 60 (I), plate XXXI, fig 102 (P)
  • Orr & Orr: p.68 (D), plate 20 (CP)
  • Phillips: p. 298 (D), p. 299 (CP)
  • Smith & Weber: sp. 44 (D & CP)
  • Tylutki (1987): p. 98 (D & P)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)