The genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 Ramaria comprises approximately 200 species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of coral fungi. Several, such as Ramaria flava

Ramaria flava

Ramaria flava , also known by its local name Changle, is a yellow edible coral mushroom native to temperate areas of southern Chile....

, are edible and picked in Europe, though they are easily confused with several mildly poisonous species capable of causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea; these include R. formosa

Ramaria formosa

Ramaria formosa, commonly known as the beautiful clavaria, handsome clavaria, yellow-tipped- or pink coral fungus, is a coral fungus found in Europe and North America. It is widely held to be mildly poisonous if consumed, giving rise to acute gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea...

and R. pallida.

Description

Basidiocarp

Basidiocarp

In fungi, a basidiocarp, basidiome or basidioma , is the sporocarp of a basidiomycete, the multicellular structure on which the spore-producing hymenium is borne. Basidiocarps are characteristic of the hymenomycetes; rusts and smuts do not produce such structures...

s may range in color from bright yellow, red, or orange, to purple, white, and shades of tan. Color changes after bruising occur in some species.

The spore

Spore

In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...

s of Ramaria species are yellow-brown to rusty-brown in mass deposit and range from smooth to warted to echinulate

Echinulate

Echinulate is an adjective describing the spiny, or "spiky" nature of some spores found in plants and fungi; an example is the auxiliary cell. The words derives from the same root as the prefix echino, meaning that the shape is similar to the porcupine ....

 or striate; spore size may range considerably, and ornamentation, when present, is cyanophilous.

Classification

Hjomsköld was the first to introduce the name Ramaria in 1790. Persoon

Christian Hendrik Persoon

Christiaan Hendrik Persoon was a mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy.-Early life:...

 later described R. botrytis, and placed it in the genus Clavaria. Fries

Elias Magnus Fries

-External links:*, Authors of fungal names, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming.*...

 sanctioned

Sanctioned name

In mycology, a sanctioned name is a name that was adopted in certain works of Christiaan Hendrik Persoon or Elias Magnus Fries, which are considered major points in fungal taxonomy.-Definition and effects:...

 the name Clavaria in 1821, and treated Ramaria as a section of Clavaria. In 1933, Donk elevated the name Ramaria to its current generic status by recognizing Bonorden's use of the name Ramaria. Currently, Ramaria is placed in the Gomphaceae, although some older sources still classify it in the Ramariaceae. Ramaria has been further subdivided into four subgenera based on differences in spore ornamentation, substrate habitat, clamps, and basidiocarp appearance.

Phylogenetic analyses has shown that Ramaria is not monophyletic, and that the characteristic coralloid shape has likely evolved several times from different ancestors.

External links

• Mushroom Observer "Clubs and Corals" by Michael Kuo