Ramaria botrytis
Encyclopedia
Ramaria botrytis, commonly known as the cauliflower coral, the pink-tipped coral mushroom, or the clustered coral, is an edible
species of coral fungus in the Gomphaceae
family. Its fruit body
, which can grow up to 12 cm (4.7 in) in diameter and 12 cm (4.7 in) tall, resembles a marine coral, and it is identifiable by its white-colored branches with numerous red to orange branched tips. It has a wide distribution, and is found in North America, North Africa, central and eastern Europe, Australia, and Asia, where it fruits on the ground in wooded areas. It is the type species
of the genus Ramaria
. The fruit bodies are generally considered edible
, although they may have laxative
effects in susceptible individuals. Scientific research has shown that the mushroom contains several bioactive compounds
.
, In 1821, Elias Magnus Fries
sanctioned
the genus name Clavaria
, and treated Ramaria
as a section of Clavaria. It was given its current name in 1918 by Adalbert Ricken
. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin
word meaning "bunch of grapes".
The mushroom is commonly known
as the "cauliflower coral", the "pink-tipped coral mushroom", or the "clustered coral". In the Cofre de Perote
region of Veracruz
, Mexico, the species is known commonly as escobea, meaning "little broom", or pechuga, meaning "breast meat of chicken"; in Italy, it is called ditola.
Ramaria botrytis is the type species
of the genus Ramaria
, a genus that as currently defined is a polyphyletic assemblage of species with coral-shaped fruit bodies. According to the infrageneric classification scheme proposed by Currie Marr and Daniel Stuntz in their 1973 monograph
of western Washington Ramaria, R. botrytis is included in the subgenus
Ramaria, which includes species that have grooved spores, grow on the ground, have clamps present in the hypha
e, and fruit bodies with a large, profusely branched cauliflower appearance. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA
suggests that R. botrytis is closely related to Ramaria rubripermanens and Ramaria rubrievanescens, and that these species form a clade
that is sister (sharing a recent common ancestor
) to Gautieria
, a genus of false truffle
s, the group being the most derived
within the studied taxa.
produced by the fungus can grow up to 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 in) in diameter and 7 to 12 cm (2.8 to 4.7 in) tall. They are fleshy rounded masses with a short stout base, densely branched above, white to buff in color, with the tips of the branches reddish. The stem
is short and thick—between 1.5 and 6 cm (0.590551181102362 and 2.4 in) in diameter—and tapering below. Initially white in color, in age it turns tan
or pale yellow. The branching is irregular, with the primary branches few and thick (2–3 cm), and the final branches slender (2–3 mm), and more or less dichotomous. The flesh
is solid and white. The variety R. botrytis var. aurantiramosa, described by Marr and Stuntz in 1973, may be distinguished from the main variety by the orange color of the upper branches.
Viewed in deposit
, the spores
are pale yellow. Microscopically, they have fine longitudinal or oblique striations that often fuse together in a vein-like network. They range in shape from roughly cylindrical to sigmoid (curved like the letter "S"), and their dimensions are 12–16 by 4–5 µm
. The spore-bearing cells, the basidia, are four-spored (occasionally two-spored), and measure 59–82 by 8–11 µm. The sterigma
(slender projections of the basidia that attach to the spores) are 4–8 µm long. The hymenium
and subhymenium (the tissue layer immediately under the hymenium) combined are about 80 µm thick. The hyphae that comprise the subhymenium are interwoven, 2.5–4.5 µm in diameter, thin-walled, and clamped.
, which has branches that are pinker than R. botrytis, and yellow-tipped; R. caulifloriformis, found in the Great Lakes
region of the United States, whose branch tips darken with age; R. strasseri, which has yellow to brown branch tips; R. rubrievanescens, which has branches in which the pink color fades after picking or in mature fruit bodies; and R. botrytoides, which is most reliably distinguished from R. botrytis by its smooth spores.
. A Korean study determined that it was prevalent at sites that also produced the choice edible species Tricholoma matsutake. Ramaria botrytis is classified as a "snowbank fungus
", meaning it commonly fruits near the edges of melting snowbanks in the spring.
Ramaria botrytis is distributed in Australia, India (eastern Himalayas), Pakistan the Far East of Russia, Turkey, Tunisia
, and Europe (including the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, and Spain), and has a wide distribution in North America. The variety R. botrytis var. aurantiramosa, limited in distribution to Lewis County, Washington
, associates with the tree species Pseudotsuga menziesii and Tsuga heterophylla.
Ramaria botrytis is an edible
species, and some rate it as choice. The odor is not distinctive, while the taste is "slight", or "fruity". In the Gafagnana region of central Italy, the mushroom is stewed, or pickled in oil. However, one field guide
rates the edibility
as "questionable", warning of the possible danger of confusing specimens with the poisonous Ramaria formosa. Others warn that some individuals may experience laxative
effects from consuming the mushroom. Caution is advised when collecting fruit bodies near potentially polluted areas, as the species is known to bioaccumulate the toxic compound arsenic
.
s of the fruit body of Ramaria botrytis have been shown to favorably influence the growth and development of HeLa
cells grown in tissue culture
. The mushroom contains the chemical nicotianamine, an ACE inhibitor
(angiotensin-converting enzyme
). Nicotianamine is known to be essential in iron metabolism and utilization in plants.
In a 2009 study of 16 Portuguese edible wild mushroom species, R. botrytis was shown to have the highest concentration of phenolic acid
s (356.7 mg per kg
of fresh fruit body), made up largely of protocatechuic acid
; it also had the highest antioxidant
capacity. Phenolic compounds are common in fruits and vegetables and are being scientifically investigated for their potential health benefits associated with reduced risk of chronic and degenerative diseases.
Edible mushroom
Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruiting bodies of several species of fungi. Mushrooms belong to the macrofungi, because their fruiting structures are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. They can appear either below ground or above ground where they may be picked by hand...
species of coral fungus in the Gomphaceae
Gomphaceae
The Gomphaceae are a diverse family of fungi belonging in what is classically known as the Phallales or cladistically as the gomphoid-phalloid clade. The family has 13 genera and 287 species....
family. Its fruit body
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...
, which can grow up to 12 cm (4.7 in) in diameter and 12 cm (4.7 in) tall, resembles a marine coral, and it is identifiable by its white-colored branches with numerous red to orange branched tips. It has a wide distribution, and is found in North America, North Africa, central and eastern Europe, Australia, and Asia, where it fruits on the ground in wooded areas. It is the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of the genus Ramaria
Ramaria
The genus Ramaria comprises approximately 200 species of coral fungi. Several, such as Ramaria flava, 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 and R...
. The fruit bodies are generally considered edible
Edible mushroom
Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruiting bodies of several species of fungi. Mushrooms belong to the macrofungi, because their fruiting structures are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. They can appear either below ground or above ground where they may be picked by hand...
, although they may have laxative
Laxative
Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and/or bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under...
effects in susceptible individuals. Scientific research has shown that the mushroom contains several bioactive compounds
Biological activity
In pharmacology, biological activity or pharmacological activity describes the beneficial or adverse effects of a drug on living matter. When a drug is a complex chemical mixture, this activity is exerted by the substance's active ingredient or pharmacophore but can be modified by the other...
.
Taxonomy and classification
The species was first named as Clavaria botrytis in 1797 by Christian Hendrik PersoonChristian Hendrik Persoon
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon was a mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy.-Early life:...
, In 1821, Elias Magnus 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 genus name Clavaria
Clavaria
Clavaria is a genus of fungi in the family Clavariaceae. Species of Clavaria produce basidiocarps that are either cylindrical to club-shaped or branched and coral-like. They are often grouped with similar-looking species from other genera, when they are collectively known as the clavarioid fungi...
, and treated Ramaria
Ramaria
The genus Ramaria comprises approximately 200 species of coral fungi. Several, such as Ramaria flava, 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 and R...
as a section of Clavaria. It was given its current name in 1918 by Adalbert Ricken
Adalbert Ricken
Adalbert Ricken was a German Roman Catholic priest and mycologist who was a native of Fulda.He attended the seminary for Roman Catholic priests in Fulda, and afterwards was a priest and chaplain in several locations in the Fulda diocese...
. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word meaning "bunch of grapes".
The mushroom is commonly known
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
as the "cauliflower coral", the "pink-tipped coral mushroom", or the "clustered coral". In the Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote, originally Naupa-Tecutépetl , is known also as Nauhcampatépetl. Both Nahuatl names mean something like 'Place of Four Mountain' or 'Mountain of the Lord of Four Places'...
region of Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, Mexico, the species is known commonly as escobea, meaning "little broom", or pechuga, meaning "breast meat of chicken"; in Italy, it is called ditola.
Ramaria botrytis is the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of the genus Ramaria
Ramaria
The genus Ramaria comprises approximately 200 species of coral fungi. Several, such as Ramaria flava, 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 and R...
, a genus that as currently defined is a polyphyletic assemblage of species with coral-shaped fruit bodies. According to the infrageneric classification scheme proposed by Currie Marr and Daniel Stuntz in their 1973 monograph
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
of western Washington Ramaria, R. botrytis is included in the subgenus
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
Ramaria, which includes species that have grooved spores, grow on the ground, have clamps present in the hypha
Hypha
A hypha is a long, branching filamentous structure of a fungus, and also of unrelated Actinobacteria. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium; yeasts are unicellular fungi that do not grow as hyphae.-Structure:A hypha consists of one or...
e, and fruit bodies with a large, profusely branched cauliflower appearance. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA
Ribosomal DNA
Ribosomal DNA codes for ribosomal RNA. The ribosome is an intracellular macromolecule that produces proteins or polypeptide chains. The ribosome itself consists of a composite of proteins and RNA. As shown in the figure, rDNA consists of a tandem repeat of a unit segment, an operon, composed of...
suggests that R. botrytis is closely related to Ramaria rubripermanens and Ramaria rubrievanescens, and that these species form a clade
Cladistics
Cladistics is a method of classifying species of organisms into groups called clades, which consist of an ancestor organism and all its descendants . For example, birds, dinosaurs, crocodiles, and all descendants of their most recent common ancestor form a clade...
that is sister (sharing a recent common ancestor
Common descent
In evolutionary biology, a group of organisms share common descent if they have a common ancestor. There is strong quantitative support for the theory that all living organisms on Earth are descended from a common ancestor....
) to Gautieria
Gautieria
Gautieria is a genus of hypogeal fungus in the family Gomphaceae. They form mycorrhizae with various tree species, mostly from the Pinaceae family. Species are present over much of the world's temperate and boreal forest habitats. It is well documented that species from this genera are an important...
, a genus of false truffle
False truffle
A false truffle or a Hymenogastrale is any species of fungi that has truffle-resembling underground fruiting bodies that produce basidiocarps....
s, the group being the most derived
Derived
In phylogenetics, a derived trait is a trait that is present in an organism, but was absent in the last common ancestor of the group being considered. This may also refer to structures that are not present in an organism, but were present in its ancestors, i.e. traits that have undergone secondary...
within the studied taxa.
Description
The fruit bodiesBasidiocarp
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...
produced by the fungus can grow up to 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 in) in diameter and 7 to 12 cm (2.8 to 4.7 in) tall. They are fleshy rounded masses with a short stout base, densely branched above, white to buff in color, with the tips of the branches reddish. The stem
Stipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
is short and thick—between 1.5 and 6 cm (0.590551181102362 and 2.4 in) in diameter—and tapering below. Initially white in color, in age it turns tan
Tan (color)
Tan is a pale whiteish, tawny shade of white. The name is derived from tannum used in the tanning of leather.The first recorded use of tan as a shade name in English was in the year 1590....
or pale yellow. The branching is irregular, with the primary branches few and thick (2–3 cm), and the final branches slender (2–3 mm), and more or less dichotomous. The flesh
Trama (mycology)
In mycology trama is a term for the inner, fleshy portion of a mushroom's basidiocarp, or fruit body. It is distinct from the outer layer of tissue, known as the pileipellis or cuticle, and from the spore-bearing tissue layer known as the hymenium....
is solid and white. The variety R. botrytis var. aurantiramosa, described by Marr and Stuntz in 1973, may be distinguished from the main variety by the orange color of the upper branches.
Viewed in deposit
Spore print
thumb|300px|right|Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print...
, the spores
Basidiospore
A basidiospore is a reproductive spore produced by Basidiomycete fungi. Basidiospores typically each contain one haploid nucleus that is the product of meiosis, and they are produced by specialized fungal cells called basidia. In grills under a cap of one common species in the phylum of...
are pale yellow. Microscopically, they have fine longitudinal or oblique striations that often fuse together in a vein-like network. They range in shape from roughly cylindrical to sigmoid (curved like the letter "S"), and their dimensions are 12–16 by 4–5 µm
Micrometre
A micrometer , is by definition 1×10-6 of a meter .In plain English, it means one-millionth of a meter . Its unit symbol in the International System of Units is μm...
. The spore-bearing cells, the basidia, are four-spored (occasionally two-spored), and measure 59–82 by 8–11 µm. The sterigma
Sterigma
thumb|right|The sterigmata is the slender extension that connects the spore to the basidia .A sterigma is an extension of the basidium consisting of a basal filamentous part and a slender projection with a spore at the tip...
(slender projections of the basidia that attach to the spores) are 4–8 µm long. The hymenium
Hymenium
The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some cells develop into sterile cells called cystidia or...
and subhymenium (the tissue layer immediately under the hymenium) combined are about 80 µm thick. The hyphae that comprise the subhymenium are interwoven, 2.5–4.5 µm in diameter, thin-walled, and clamped.
Similar species
Ramaria rubripermanens, similar in appearance to R. botrytis, has reddish terminal branches, a stout form, and striate spores, but may be distinguished from R. botrytis by its much shorter spores. Other species with which R. botrytis may be confused include: R. formosaRamaria 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...
, which has branches that are pinker than R. botrytis, and yellow-tipped; R. caulifloriformis, found in the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
region of the United States, whose branch tips darken with age; R. strasseri, which has yellow to brown branch tips; R. rubrievanescens, which has branches in which the pink color fades after picking or in mature fruit bodies; and R. botrytoides, which is most reliably distinguished from R. botrytis by its smooth spores.
Habitat and distribution
Fruit bodies of Ramaria botrytis are found on the ground growing solitarily, scattered, or in small groups among leaves in woods; it can also grow in ringsFairy ring
A fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle, elf ring or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms. The rings may grow to over in diameter, and they become stable over time as the fungus grows and seeks food underground. They are found mainly in forested areas, but...
. A Korean study determined that it was prevalent at sites that also produced the choice edible species Tricholoma matsutake. Ramaria botrytis is classified as a "snowbank fungus
Snowbank fungus
A snowbank fungus is any one of a number of diverse species of fungi that occur adjacent to or within melting snow. They are most commonly found in the mountains of western North America where a deep snowpack accumulates during the winter and slowly melts through the spring and summer, often...
", meaning it commonly fruits near the edges of melting snowbanks in the spring.
Ramaria botrytis is distributed in Australia, India (eastern Himalayas), Pakistan the Far East of Russia, Turkey, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, and Europe (including the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, and Spain), and has a wide distribution in North America. The variety R. botrytis var. aurantiramosa, limited in distribution to Lewis County, Washington
Lewis County, Washington
Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2010, the population was 75,455. The county seat is at Chehalis, and its largest city is Centralia....
, associates with the tree species Pseudotsuga menziesii and Tsuga heterophylla.
Uses
Edible mushroom
Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruiting bodies of several species of fungi. Mushrooms belong to the macrofungi, because their fruiting structures are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. They can appear either below ground or above ground where they may be picked by hand...
species, and some rate it as choice. The odor is not distinctive, while the taste is "slight", or "fruity". In the Gafagnana region of central Italy, the mushroom is stewed, or pickled in oil. However, one field guide
Field guide
A field guide is a book designed to help the reader identify wildlife or other objects of natural occurrence . It is generally designed to be brought into the 'field' or local area where such objects exist to help distinguish between similar objects...
rates the edibility
Edible mushroom
Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruiting bodies of several species of fungi. Mushrooms belong to the macrofungi, because their fruiting structures are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. They can appear either below ground or above ground where they may be picked by hand...
as "questionable", warning of the possible danger of confusing specimens with the poisonous Ramaria formosa. Others warn that some individuals may experience laxative
Laxative
Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and/or bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under...
effects from consuming the mushroom. Caution is advised when collecting fruit bodies near potentially polluted areas, as the species is known to bioaccumulate the toxic compound arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
.
Chemistry
ExtractExtract
An extract is a substance made by extracting a part of a raw material, often by using a solvent such as ethanol or water. Extracts may be sold as tinctures or in powder form....
s of the fruit body of Ramaria botrytis have been shown to favorably influence the growth and development of HeLa
HeLa
A HeLa cell is a cell type in an immortal cell line used in scientific research. It is the oldest and most commonly used human cell line. The line was derived from cervical cancer cells taken on February 8, 1951 from Henrietta Lacks, a patient who eventually died of her cancer on October 4, 1951...
cells grown in tissue culture
Tissue culture
Tissue culture is the growth of tissues or cells separate from the organism. This is typically facilitated via use of a liquid, semi-solid, or solid growth medium, such as broth or agar...
. The mushroom contains the chemical nicotianamine, an ACE inhibitor
ACE inhibitor
ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are a group of drugs used primarily for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure...
(angiotensin-converting enzyme
Angiotensin-converting enzyme
Angiotensin I-converting enzyme , an exopeptidase, is a circulating enzyme that participates in the body's renin-angiotensin system , which mediates extracellular volume , and arterial vasoconstriction...
). Nicotianamine is known to be essential in iron metabolism and utilization in plants.
In a 2009 study of 16 Portuguese edible wild mushroom species, R. botrytis was shown to have the highest concentration of phenolic acid
Phenolic acid
Phenolic acids are a type of organic compounds. Included in that class are substances containing a phenolic ring and an organic carboxylic acid function ....
s (356.7 mg per kg
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
of fresh fruit body), made up largely of protocatechuic acid
Protocatechuic acid
Protocatechuic acid is a dihydroxybenzoic acid, a type of phenolic acid. It has mixed effects on normal and cancer cells in in vitro and in vivo studies.-Biological effects:...
; it also had the highest antioxidant
Antioxidant
An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When...
capacity. Phenolic compounds are common in fruits and vegetables and are being scientifically investigated for their potential health benefits associated with reduced risk of chronic and degenerative diseases.