Summary:
{See also Hericium Table.} Arora discusses nomenclatural intricacies in this genus, and the approach of Ginns(5) from 1993 is used here, in which H. ramosum as referred to by Arora is called H. coralloides (Scop.: Fr.) Pers. and H. coralloides, as the hardwood lover similar to H. abietis with pure white color when fresh, slightly longer spines up to 4cm, and slightly larger spores is called H. americanum Ginns. Ginns(22) in publishing the new name specifies the description as that of H. coralloides in Harrison(6), from which the description below is derived except where specified.

Chemical Reactions:
flesh amyloid in Melzer''s reagent, but no color reaction to KOH

Microscopic:
spores 5.5-7.0 x 4.5-6.0 microns, round to nearly round, finely roughened to almost smooth, amyloid, white; basidia 25-30 x 5-6 microns, clamped; gloeocystidia frequently projecting 25 microns above hymenium, arising from deep within context, "sharp-pointed or beaded on tips, 6-9 microns wide", "filled with oily contents that may ooze out as droplets in KOH mounts", the droplets often hardening into conidia-like shapes; hyphae of trama monomitic, hyphae up to 20 microns wide, "variably inflated, thick-walled, with lumen almost closed in some, and septa usually with clamps", the amyloid reaction of tramal hyphae can vary in intensity, (Harrison), spores 5.5-7 x 4.5-6 microns (Hallenberg)

Spore Deposit:
white (Miller)

Notes:
Ginns(5) gives distribution as BC, WA, OR, ID, NS, ON, PE, PQ, AZ, CO, GA, IA, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, NH, NY, PA, TN, VT, and WV.