California Fungi: Ramaria araiospora

Ramaria araiospora Marr & Stuntz
Bibliotheca Mycol. 38: 55. 1974.

Common Name: none

Description

For description see Exeter et al. & 'California Mushrooms'.
Habitat

Scattered to gregarious in soil in mixed hardwood-conifer forests, especially with Douglas fir and hemlock; common, fruiting from fall through mid-winter in northern coastal forests.
Edibility

Unknown.
Comments

Ramaria araiospora is distinguished by its deep pinkish red to scarlet-red branches which make this is a strikingly beautiful and nearly unmistakable coral fungus. Two varieties occur: Ramaria araiospora var. araiospora with yellow to orange branch tips and R. araiospora var. rubella with red branch tips. Both are common in Mendocino Co. in mixed forests with Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla).
References

Arora, D. (1986). Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 959 p.
Castellano, M.A., Smith, J.E., O'Dell, T., Cázares, E. & Nugent, S. (1999). Handbook to Strategy 1 Fungal Species in the Northwest Forest Plan. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: Portland, OR. 195 p. (PDF)
Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. & Stevens, F.A. (2015). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 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. (PDF)
Marr, C.D. & Stuntz, D.E. (1973). Ramaria of Western Washington (Bibliotheca Mycologica, Band 38). J. Cramer: Vaduz, Liechtenstein. 232 p. (Protologue)
Siegel, N. & Schwarz, C. (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.
Other Descriptions and Photos

Main Photo
- Taylor Lockwood: Taylor Lockwood (CP)
- Ronald L. Exeter: Ramaria araiospora (CP)
- Ronald L. Exeter: Ramaria araiospora (CP)
- Ronald L. Exeter: Ramaria araiospora (CP)
- Currie D. Marr: Ramaria araiospora (CP) — Type specimen
- Michael Wood: Ramaria araiospora (CP)
- Michael Wood: Ramaria araiospora (CP)
- Alan Rockefeller: Ramaria araiospora (CP)
- Alan Rockefeller: Ramaria araiospora (CP)
- Alan Rockefeller: Ramaria araiospora (CP)
- Alan Rockefeller: Ramaria araiospora (CP)
- Handbook to Strategy 1 Fungal Species in the NW Forest Plan: Ramaria araiospora (D & CP)
- Mushroom Observer: Ramaria araiospora (CP)
- iNaturalist: Ramaria araiospora (CP)
- Arora (1986): p. 655 (D), pl. 168 (CP)
- Lincoff: p. 406 (D), pl. 750 (CP)
- Phillips: p. 294 (D & CP)
(D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)