Ramaria formosa

Taxobox
name = "Ramaria formosa"


regnum = Fungi
phylum = Basidiomycota
classis = Agaricomycetes
ordo = Cantharellales
familia = Gomphaceae
genus = "Ramaria"
species = "R. formosa"
binomial = "Ramaria formosa"
binomial_authority = (Pers.) Quél. mycomorphbox
name = Ramaria formosa
hymeniumType=no
capShape = no
whichGills = no
stipeCharacter=bare
sporePrintColor=yellow
ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
howEdible=poisonous

"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, with consumption results in acute gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and colicky pain. It is a pinkish, much-branched coral-shape reaching some convert|20|cm|in|0|abbr=on|link=on high. Some forms collected in North America often lack the bitter taste common to European specimens and may represent a different species.

Taxonomy

It was initially described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1797 as "Clavaria formosa" before being placed in its current genus by French mycologist Lucien Quélet in 1888. The generic name is derived from Latin "rāmus" 'branch', while the specific epithet comes from the Latin "formōsus" 'beautiful'. [cite book | last = Simpson | first = D.P. | title = Cassell's Latin Dictionary | publisher = Cassell Ltd. | date = 1979 | edition = 5 | location = London | pages = 883 | id = ISBN 0-304-52257-0] There is some confusion over its classification as there is evidence the binomial name as been applied loosely to any coral fungus fitting the description, and thus some collections from North America may be a different species.cite book |last=Ammirati |first=Joseph F.|coauthors= James A Traquair and Paul A Horgen |title=Poisonous mushrooms of the northern United States and Canada |year=1985 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Minneapolis |isbn=0-8166-1407-5 |pages=306-08] Common names include beautiful clavaria, handsome clavaria, yellow-tipped- or pink coral fungus.

Description

The fruiting body of "Ramaria formosa" grows to a height of convert|20|cm|in|0|abbr=on; it is a many-branched coral-like structure, the yellow tipped pinkish branches arising from a thick base. Terminal branches are less than 0.5 cm in diameter. The flesh is white, an important feature as edible members of the genus have yellowish flesh. Old specimens may fade so the original colour is hard to distinguish. The spore print is yellow. The smell is unpleasant and taste bitter. cite book|last=Zeitlmayr |first=Linus|year=1976|title=Wild Mushrooms:An Illustrated Handbook|publisher=Garden City Press, Hertfordshire|isbn= 0-584-10324-7|pages=p. 108] However, the taste has been reported as indistinct in North America.

Distribution and habitat

Fruiting in autumn, "Ramaria formosa" is associated with beech and is found in Europe,cite book | author = Nilson S & Persson O | year = 1977 | title = Fungi of Northern Europe 1: Larger Fungi (Excluding Gill-Fungi) | publisher = Penguin|isbn=0-14-063005-8|pages=p. 64] and North America. Forms from the western areas are known to occur under conifers.

Toxicity

Consumption of the fungus results in acute gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea, vomiting, colicky abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The toxins responsible are unknown to date. It has been reported as edible if the acrid tips are removed. [cite book | last = North| first = Pamela | year = 1967 | title = Poisonous Plants and Fungi in colour | publisher = Blandford Press & Pharmacological Society of Great Britain |pages=p. 109-10]

References