Ramaria flavobrunnescens (G.F. Atk.) Corner var. aromatica Marr & D.E. Stuntz
no common name
Gomphaceae
Species account author: Ian Gibson.
Extracted from Matchmaker: Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest.
Introduction to the Macrofungi
no common name
Gomphaceae
Species account author: Ian Gibson.
Extracted from Matchmaker: Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest.
Introduction to the Macrofungi
Photograph
Species Information
Summary:
Features of Ramaria flavobrunnescens var. aromatica include medium size, single stem, clear yellow branches, becoming brownish yellow when old, the tips a deeper yellow when young, branches appearing stiff and somewhat tufted at the nodes, fleshy-fibrous cartilaginous consistency when fresh, usually a pronounced sweetish odor, spores with small obscure warts, and clamp connections. Ramaria flavobrunnescens var. aromatica differs from R. flavobrunnescens var. flavobrunnescens (infrequent in eastern North America) in having larger spores, fragrant odor, and subcartilaginous consistency. The type variety, incidentally, has branch color suffused with fleshy tints in juvenile and adolescent specimens, (Petersen(12)). Var. aromatica is common in the Pacific Northwest (Scates-Barnhart).
Chemical Reactions:
stem flesh inamyloid (Marr), ferric sulphate in water negative on stem flesh (Exeter)
Odor:
sweet, slightly resembling gardenia, curry, or sweet pastries, (Marr)
Taste:
not distinctive (Marr)
Microscopic:
spores 9-12 x 3-5 microns, average 10.4 x 4.0 microns, subcylindric, with small obscure warts; basidia 1-4-spored (mostly 4-spored), 40-85 x 7-10 microns, clavate, clamped; clamp connections present, (Marr)
Spore Deposit:
'apricot yellow''
Notes:
Var. aromatica has been found at least in WA (Marr). There is a collection from BC at the Pacific Forestry Centre, and there are collections from WA, OR, and CA (variety unspecified) at Oregon State University.
EDIBILITY
yes (Scates-Barnhart)
Habitat and Range
SIMILAR SPECIES
Ramaria coulterae usually shows a brown patch in the base of the stem, but it fruits in spring and hyphae do not have clamp connections, (Petersen(3)). Ramaria rasilispora has spores that are entirely smooth to obscurely (finely) warted, (Marr). Ramaria cystidiophora has acantho-dendroid gloeoplerous hyphae in the stem, (Marr). Ramaria flavigelatinosa lacks clamp connections, (Marr). See also SIMILAR section of Ramaria cystidiophora var. citronella, Ramaria flavigelatinosa var. fragrans, Ramaria rasilispora var. rasilispora, and Ramaria rubricarnata var. rubricarnata.Habitat
terrestrial under Tsuga heterophylla (Western Hemlock), well represented in the fall flora of western Washington and may occur in the spring in less abundance, (Marr)
Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Clavaria botrytoides Peck