Management Recommendations•Group 7

Rare Coral Fungi: Ramaria amyloidea Marr and Stuntz
Uncommon Coral Fungi: Ramaria araiospora Marr and Stuntz
Rare Coral Fungi: Ramaria aurantiisiccescens Marr and Stuntz
Uncommon Coral Fungi: Ramaria botrytis (Pers.) Ricken var. aurantiramosa Marr and Stuntz
Rare Coral Fungi: Ramaria celerivirescens Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria claviramulata Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria concolor Corner f. marii Petersen, Ramaria cyaneigranosa Marr and Stuntz
Uncommon Coral Fungi: Ramaria fasciculata var. sparsiramosa Coker apud Petersen, Ramaria gelatiniaurantia Marr and Stuntz,
Rare Coral Fungi: Ramaria gracilis (Pers. ex. Fr.) Quelet, Ramaria hilaris var. olympiana Petersen
Uncommon Coral Fungi: Ramaria largentii Marr and Stuntz
Rare Coral Fungi: Ramaria lorithamnus (Berk.) Peterson, Ramaria maculatipes Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria rainierensis Marr and Stuntz
Uncommon Coral Fungi: Ramaria rubella var. blanda
Rare Coral Fungi: Ramaria rubribrunnescens Marr and Stuntz
Uncommon Coral Fungi: Ramaria rubrievanescens Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria rubripermanens Marr and Stuntz
Rare Coral Fungi: Ramaria spinulosa var. diminutiva, Ramaria stuntzii Marr
Uncommon Coral Fungi: Ramaria thiersii Petersen and Scates in Petersen
Rare Coral Fungi: Ramaria verlotensis Marr and Stuntz

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Species: Ramaria amyloidea Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria araiospora Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria aurantiisiccescens Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria botrytis (Pers.) Ricken var. aurantiramosa Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria celerivirescens Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria claviramulata Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria concolor Corner f. marii Petersen, Ramaria cyaneigranosa Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria fasciculata var. sparsiramosa Coker apud Petersen, Ramaria gelatiniaurantia Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria gracilis (Pers. ex. Fr.) Quelet, Ramaria hilaris var. olympiana Petersen, Ramaria largentii Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria lorithamnus (Berk.) Peterson, Ramaria maculatipes Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria rainierensis Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria rubella var. blanda, Ramaria rubribrunnescens Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria rubrievanescens Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria rubripermanens Marr and Stuntz, Ramaria spinulosa var. diminutiva, Ramaria stuntzii Marr, Ramaria thiersii Petersen and Scates in Petersen, and Ramaria verlotensis Marr and Stuntz

Taxonomic Group: Fungi

ROD Component(s): 1 & 3

Other Management Status: All of these taxa are listed as sensitive taxa in a preliminary report on endangered, threatened and sensitive macrofungi of Washington State by Ammirati (1994).

Range: Ramaria amyloidea is known from western Washington and northern California. Ramaria araiospora is known from Pierce Co., Washington south to Mendocino Co., California. Ramaria aurantiisiccescens is known from Pierce Co., Washington south to Humboldt Co., California. Ramaria botrytis var. aurantiramosa is known from only Lewis Co., Washington. Ramaria celerivirescens is known from Snohomish Co., Washington south to Humboldt Co., California. Ramaria claviramulata is known from King Co., Washington and Mendocino Co., California. Ramaria concolor f. marii is known from only Snohomish Co., Washington. Ramaria cyaneigranosa is known from Clallam Co., Washington south to Humboldt Co., California. Ramaria fasciculata var. sparsiramosa is known from only Mason Co., Washington. Ramaria gelatiniaurantia is known from Clallam Co., Washington south to Humboldt Co., California. Ramaria gracilis is known from Europe as well as the Pacific Northwest. In the Pacific Northwest it is known from San Juan Co., Washington south to Mendocino Co., California. Ramaria hilaris var. olympiana is known from only Jefferson Co., Washington. Ramaria largentii is known from Pierce Co., Washington south to Siskiyou Co., California. Ramaria lorithamnus is a South Pacific disjunct, known from Australia and New Zealand. In the pacific Northwest it is known only from Pierce Co., Washington. Ramaria maculatipes is known from Mason Co., Washington south to Mendocino Co., California. Ramaria rainierensis is known from Pierce Co., Washington and Humboldt Co., California. Ramaria rubella var. blanda is a bicoastal endemic known from the Pacific Northwest and the Appalachian Mountains. In the Pacific Northwest it is known from San Juan Co., Washington south to Humboldt Co., California. Ramaria rubribrunnescens is known from Clallam Co. and Pierce Co. in Washington and Mendocino Co., California. Ramaria rubrievanescens is known from eastern North America and the Pacific Northwest. In the Pacific Northwest it is known from Snohomish Co., Washington south to Jefferson Co., Oregon. Ramaria rubripermanens is known from only Marion Co., Oregon. Ramaria spinulosa is known from only Mendocino Co., California. Ramaria stuntzii is known from Clallam Co., Washington south to Mendocino Co., California. Ramaria thiersii is known from only Mendocino Co., California. Ramaria verlotensis is known from Snohomish Co., Washington and Del Norte Co., California.

Threats: Logging of host trees is the most serious threat to these taxa. In addition, actions that disturb soil or remove overstory hosts could eliminate populations of all the above taxa

Management Recommendations: Maintain habitat for these taxa at known Federal sites by retaining forest structure and soil conditions. Avoid disturbance at known Federal sites, including modification of canopy until additional data is collected on taxon viability.

Information Needs: Revisit known sites of all taxa and collect ecological data to more completely characterize habitat. Conduct inventories, particularly in late-successional reserves, Research Natural Areas and when appropriate where management treatments or projects are scheduled or proposed.

I. NATURAL HISTORY

A. Taxonomic/Nomenclatural History

Ramaria amyloidea was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria araiospora was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria aurantiisiccescens was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria botrytis was originally described (as Clavaria botrytis) from Europe by Persoon (1797). It was transferred to Ramaria by Ricken (1918). Ramaria botrytis var. aurantiramosa was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria celerivirescens was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria claviramulata was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria concolor was originally described from Connecticut (as Ramaria stricta var. concolor) by Corner (1950). Peterson (1975) originally described f. marii from Idaho. There are no other known synonyms.

Ramaria cyaneigranosa was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria fasciculata Coker apud Petersen was originally described (as Clavaria conjunctipes var. odora) by Coker (1923). Known synonyms include: Ramaria conjunctipes var. odora Coker

Ramaria gelatiniaurantia was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria gracilis was originally described (as Clavaria gracilis) from Europe by Persoon (1797). It was transferred to Ramaria by Quelet (1888). There are no other known synonyms.

Ramaria hilaris var. olympiana was originally described from Washington by Peterson (1988). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria largentii was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria lorithamnus was originally described (as Clavaria lorithamnus)from Europe by Berkeley (1873). Other known synonyms include: Clavaria sinapicolor Cleland, Ramariopsis lorithamnus (Berk.) Corner, Ramaria sinapicolor (Clel.) Corner, and Ramaria Synaptopoda Marr and Stuntz.

Ramaria maculatipes was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria rainierensis was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria rubella var. blanda was originally described from Europe by Petersen (1975). Other known synonyms include: Clavaria rubella Schaeffer per Krombholz, Clayaria rubella J. C. Schaeffer, Clavaria acris Peck, Ramaria acris (Peck) Corner, Ramaria apicoalba Petersen, Ramaria testaceoincarnata Marr.

Ramaria rubribrunnescens was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria rubrievanescens was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria rubripermanens was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria spinulosa was originally described from California by Petersen (1988). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria stuntzii was originally described from Washington by Marr in Marr and Stuntz(1973). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria thiersii was originally described from California by Peterson and Scates (1988). There are no known synonyms.

Ramaria verlotensis was originally described from Washington by Marr and Stuntz (1973). There are no known synonyms.

B. Species Descriptions

1. Morphology

These taxa are grouped together because they are in a single genus characterized by corraloid sporocarps.

Note: The genus Ramaria is poorly known in our region and its taxonomy is quite difficult. Species descriptions are taken from published type descriptions unless noted otherwise.

Ramaria amyloidea is characterized by a context which instantly turns blue-green after application of 10% Fe₂(S0₄)₃, a distinctive Context band of pale brown hyphae visible in the basal region of a radially sectioned stipe, amyloid context, and short, narrowly cylindrical, nearly smooth spores. Ramaria velocimutans, R. celerivirescens, R. claviramulata, and R. rubiginosa are other species which have one or more of the first three features. None of these species, however, resembles R. amyloidea with respect to the short, narrowly cylindrical, nearly smooth spores, and they differ further either in sporocarp color or in having non-clamped hyphae.

Basidiomata 7-13 x 7-15 cm, white to orange-white with subareolate regions of brown superficial hyphae, in mature and older sporocarps the stipe almost entirely brown, branches pale orange with a tinge of pastel red, occasionally with small violet gray bruised spots, apices concolorous, slightly more yellow or darkening, a distinctive Context band of pale camel brown hyphae visible in the basal region of a radially section stipe, white above, context of the branches subconcolorous or paler and slightly more reddish. Stipe of dried sporocarps yellow-white with dark brown superficial areas, branches a shade browner than pale yellow, apices concolorous or darkening, context of the stipe similar to that of fresh material, context of the branches yellow-white. Taste not distinctive. Odor slightly sweet. Stipe single, conical to cylindrical, stout, 2-6.5 x 2-4.5 cm.; branching from the base up to 8 times, lower nodes commonly polychotomous, axils frequently acute or turbinate, branches slight to moderately divergent, lower branches sometimes connate, up to 4 cm diam, primary and secondary internodes lengthening up to 3 cm, upper branches generally short, numerous and compacted on the primary branches, the more congested sporocarps cauliflower-like in form, pluridigitate or plurinodulose near the apices; apices rounded. Consistency fleshy fibrous when fresh, drying hard, brittle, and slightly chalky-friable. Context of stipe amyloid in fresh sporocarps, in dried sporocarps instantly turning dark brown on application of Melzer's reagent; context of fresh sporocarps instantly turning turquoise green on application of 10% Fe₂(S0₄)₃; the brown context band in the stipe darkening on application of 20% KOH; pyrogallol, 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol, phenol or aniline negative. Spores 7-10 x 3-4 µm, average 8.9 x 3.6 µm, narrowly cylindrical, rarely smooth ususally finely ornamented, warts cyanophilous, frequently linear, in deposit apricot yellow. Basidia narrowly clavate, 47-82 x 7-10 µm, basally clamped, contents strongly cyanophilous, 2-4 sterigmate, mostly 4; sterigmata 4-6 µm long, slightly incurved or straight, not divergent; hymenium about 60 µm thick and the subhymenium 50 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae loosely interwoven, 2-4 µm diam, clamped, cyanophilous globular inclusions common, thin-walled. Context hyphae outer hyphae of the stipe collapsing, forming a densely stratified subparallel layer about 60 µm thick, the underlying context compactly interwoven, context of the branches parallel, cells non-inflated to moderately inflated in the branches, 4-19 µm diam, walls smooth in the stipe, smooth or fluted in the branches, moderately cyanophilous, hyphae thick-walled in the stipe 0.25-4 µm and moderately thick-walled in the branches, 0.25-1.2(2) µm, ampulliform swellings near septa rare in the branches, sparse in the stipe, 8-22 µm diam, walls of the swellings moderately ornamented in the stipe, nearly smooth in the branches; clamps abundant, frequently of the closed type; gleoplerous hyphae sparse, 3.5-4 µm diam or up to 9 µm in localized bulbous regions.

The two varieties of R. araiospora are separated on the sole characteristic of the presence or absence of yellow apices at maturity. Variety araiospora has scarlet red branches with yellow tips, and var. rubella is more magenta red with concolorous or paler but not yellow tips. Ramaria araiospora is a beautiful and distinctly red species, whereas R. subbotrytis is coral pink when young, fading to creamy ochraceous. The apices of R. subbotrytis tend to be rounded and those of R. araiospora subacute to acute. Although the spore shape is similar in both species, they differ slightly in dimensions and ornamentation. Spores of R. subbotrytis are 7.5-10 x 3-4 µm, average 9 x 3.4 µm, distinctly but finely ornamented with small raised warts. Spores of R. araiospora are on the average about 1 µm longer and the ornamentation seems slightly finer, varying from small raised warts to elongated ones. Ramaria subbotrytis var. intermedia Coker is not closely relatedto either R. araiospora or R. subbotrytis, the type specimen has larger spores, 8-13 x 3.5-4.5 µm (average 10.5 x 4.2 µm), and clamped hyphae.

Basidiomata 5-13 x 2-8 cm, white to yellow-white, or discoloring brown-white, branches red in youth, fading during maturation to pale red, apices nearly concolorous in primordial basidiomata, developing yellow basipetally during maturation, apices of mature sporocarps maize yellow or pale to deep orange, context concolorous. Dried sporocarps a shade grayer than yellow-white in the base, primordial branches retaining some red coloration, about dull red, mature branches a shade more yellow-brown than pale orange, context concolorous. Taste not distinctive. Odor not distinctive. Stipe single, slightly bulbous, 2-3 x 1.5 cm, sometimes nearly fasciculate, covered with a thin white basal tomentum, abortive or primordial branches often present at the base; branching up to 6 times from the base, polychotomous to dichotomous, axils acute or turbinate and branches slight to moderately divergent, internodes elongated in mature sporocarps, branches mostly slender, 1-5 mm diam, some basal branches up to 4 cm diam, forked or finely divided near apices; apices acute to subacute. Consistency fleshy-fibrous when fresh, brittle when dried. Context of the stipe inamyloid; pyrogallol, 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol, phenol, or aniline negative; occasionally exceptions occurring with guaiac, guaiacol, and 1-naphthol. Spores 8-13 x 3-4.5 µm, average 9.9 x 3.7 µm, subcylindrical, finely ornamented with linearly lobed, cyanophilous warts. Basidia clavate, 43-75 x 7-12 µm, without basal clamps, contents not granulate, 1-4 sterigmate, mostly 4; sterigmata 4-8 µm long, straight, erect or slightly divergent; hymenium and subhymenium combined about 70 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae interwoven, 2-3 µm diam, lacking clamps, thin-walled. Context hyphae parallel near the surface to interwoven a short distance inwards towards the base, parallel in the branches, hyphae mostly non-inflated, some moderately inflated, 4-14 µm diam, walls smooth to slightly fluted, cyanophilous, thin, 0.25-1 µm, ampulliform swellings near septa, 8-15 µm diam, walls of the vesicles moderately ornamented in the stipe, slightly ornamented in the branches, crystalloid masses occurring in the stipe; clamps absent; gleoplerous hyphae present but infrequent, 3-4.5 µm diam.

Ramaria aurantiisiccescens is characterized by the bright orange basidomata which are neither rubribrunnescent or vinescent, clampless hyphae, fleshy-fibrous consistency, positive macrochemical tests with 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol, phenol and aniline, and spores averaging 10.8 x 4.0 µm. In the field it is difficult to distinguish R. aurantiisiccescens from several other bright orange ramarias of similar habit, R. gelatiniaurantia, R. 1ongispora and R. sandaracina. The positive macrochemical tests characteristic of R. aurantiisiccescens serve to separate this taxon from the other three. In addition R. sandaracina has clamped hyphae, R. gelatiniaurantia has a gelatinous consistency, and R. 1ongispora has longer, more coarsely warted spores. The orange coloration retained in young, properly dried sporocarps of R. aurantiisiccescens is an aid to identification, but it does not serve to distinguish this species from R. gelatiniaurantia. Ramaria subaurantiaca Corner somewhat resembles R. aurantiisiccescens. The type of R. subaurantiaca was found on rotting branches in S. E. Tibet, the color was described as subaurantiaco, not bright orange, and the sporocarps dried entirely sordide brunneo-ochracea.

Basidiomata 8-10 x 2-8 cm, white, upper base and lowest branches pale yellow to sunflower yellow, shading upwards into pale orange or apricot yellow, the apices the most intensely colored, about dark orange, base and lower branches sometimes with pale superficial stains of caramel brown, context subconcolorous. Dried sporocarps yellow-white to champagne in the lower regions, terminal branches, at least in young sporocarps, retaining a good deal of orange color, about carrot red, context concolorous. Taste not distinctive. Odor slightly sweet. Base single to nearly compound, variable in shape and size, 1-4 x 1-2 cm, a thin white basal tomentum present, branching 4-7 times from the base, polychotomous or dichotomous, connation of branches sometimes occurring in lower internodes, axils acute to rounded and branches slightly divergent, internodes elongated up to 5 cm in length, branches generally slender, 0.2-1 cm diam, bifid tofinely divided near apices; apices subacute. Consistency fleshy-fibrous when fresh, drying hard at the base and brittle in the branches. Context of the stipe inamyloid; significant color changes occurring within 30 min of application to branch section from 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol, phenol and aniline; pyrogallol negative. Spores 8.5-14 x 3-5 µm, average 10.8 x 4.0 µm, cylindrical to subpip-shaped, ornamented with fine, lobed, cyanophilous warts. Basidia clavate, 45-60 x 8-12 µm, without basal clamps, l-4-sterigmate; sterigmata extremely variable in number and shape, some conspicuously thick and long, mostly 4-7 µm, up to 22 µm; hymenium and subhymenium combined about 65 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae interwoven, 3-4 µm diam, thin-walled, without clamps. Context hyphae interwoven in the stipe, parallel in the branches, non-inflated to moderately inflated, 4-16 µm diam, walls smooth, not gelatinizing, strongly cyanophilous, thin, 0.25-0.5 µm, hyphae infrequently vesicular near a septum, up to 12 µm diam, walls of swellings nearly smooth in the branches, moderately ornamented in the stipe; clamps absent; gleoplerous hyphae rare, slender, 2-3 µm diam.

Ramaria botrytis var. aurantiiramosa is distinguished from var. botrytis by the orange coloration of the upper branches. It is separated from R. rubripermanens by its larger spores.

Basidiomata 8-15 x 6-17 cm, opaque white, bruising pale yellow to gray-orange, primary branches concolorous with stipe, terminal branches pale orange or a shade more brown, context white. Taste not distinctive. Odor faintly sweet. Stipe single or fasciculate, if the latter then 2 or 3 stipes present, tapering, massive, 3.5-8 x 3.5-6 cm, primary branches few, mostly 2 or 3, short to moderately elongate, thick, up to 3 cm diam, upper branch systems compacted on primary branches or stipe, 3 cm or less in length, pluridigitate near apices; apices subacute, rounded, or nodulose. Consistency fleshy-fibrous when fresh, drying hard. Context of stipe slowly and weakly amyloid; pyrogallol, phenol and aniline negative; slight color changes with application of 1-naphthol, guaiac, and guaiacol. Spores 12-16 x 4-6 µm, average 13.5 x 4.7 µm, with a suprahilar depression and a dorsal and ventral convexity, striae steeply oblique, cyanophilous. Hyphae of the stipe thin to moderately thick-walled, 0.25-2 µm.

Ramaria celerivirescens is characterized by a context which instantly turns blue-green after application 10% ferric sulphate, a distinctive Context band of pale brown hyphae visible in the basal region of a radially sectioned stipe, and a amyloid context. Ramaria celerivirescens differs from R. amyloidea with respect to the occurrence of clamps, sporocarp form and spore ornamentation. Ramaria velocimutans is a third species which has a Context band of pale brown hyphae in the stipe and reacts quickly with ferric sulphate, but it differs in its larger size and white sporocarps.are colored very much like those of R. formosa, in young sporocarps the branches are pale pink-orange with yellow tips. Unlike R. formosa the basidiomata of R. celerivirescens do not discolor with handling and the hyphae are without clamp connections.

Basidiomata 6-18 x 3-10 cm, white or yellow-white, covered with subareolate patches of brown to red-brown superficial hyphae, branches pale to pale orange, apices pale to sunflower yellow, a distinctive Context band of pale camel brown hyphae visible in the basal region of a radially section stipe, white above, context of the branches subconcolorous or slightly more red than surface. Stipe of dried sporocarps pale yellow with dark brown areas, branches paler than gray-orange, apices concolorous or slightly darker, context of the stipe similar to that of fresh material, context of the branches yellow-white. Stipe single, surface rough, cylindrical or tapered, 2-7 x 1-3 cm; branching up to 10 times from the stipe, axils acute to turbinate and branches slightly divaricate, lower branches with internodes up to 5 cm long and up to 1.3 cm in diam, upper branches usually much less elongated and more slender, 1-5 mm diam, bifid or multifid near apices; apices subacute to rounded. Consistency fleshy-fibrous when fresh, hard at the base and generally brittle in the branches when dried. Context of the stipe amyloid in fresh sporocarps, the reaction usually slow; context of fresh sporocarps instantly turning dark green on application of10% Fe₂(S0₄)₃; the brown Context band in the stipe darkening on application of 20% KOH; pyrogallol, 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol, phenol and aniline negative; with more time guaiac may become weakly positive. Spores 8-11 x 4-6 µm, average 9.5 x 4.6 µm, subcylindrical with a prominent lateral apiculus, up to 2 x 2 µm, ornamented with coarse, irregularly shaped, cyanophilous warts, spores in deposit gray-yellow-orange. Basidia clavate, 41-70 x 7-11 µm, not clamped, 2-4-sterigmate, mostly 4; sterigmata 3-8 µm long, mostly straight, occasionally incurved, not divergent; hymenium and subhymenium combined 75-90 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae interwoven, 3-5 µm diam, thinwalled, without clamps. Context hyphae interwoven in the stipe, parallel in the branches, mostly non-inflated in the stipe, 6-l1 µm diam, hyphae of the branches sometimes highly inflated, 3-20 µm diam, walls smooth or slightly fluted, moderately cyanophilous, thin-walled, globular cyanophilous inclusions sometimes conspicuous, hyphae frequently vesicular near a septum, 10-18 µm diam, walls of the vesicles distinctively ornamented in the stipe, moderately so in the branches; clamps absent; gleoplerous hyphae rare, mostly 2.5-3.5 µm diam.

Ramaria claviramulata is a unique Ramaria of western Washington with respect to form. Its chubby terminal branches are strikingly similar to the apices of the sporocarps of Clavariadelphus species. Besides the chubby terminal branches, R. claviramulata is characterized by a context reacting immediately with 10% Fe₂(S0₄)₃, a hymenium turning red upon application of 20% KOH, the beige-colored sporocarps, thick-walled hyphae, spores with an apiculus of very large size, and a thickening hymenium. Furthermore, the numerous fertile basidia appear completely normal, and all those observed are 4-sterigmate.

Basidiomata 5-9 x 3.5-4.5 cm, brown-white, sometimes with subareolate regions of superficial hyphae of darker brown, branches gray-orange, apices mostly concolorous, context brown-white. Dried sporocarps generally brown-orange, sometimes with darker areas on the base or apices, context brown-white. Taste bitter. Odor musty. Stipe single or occasionally 2-3 stipes in a fascicle, tapering, slender, 1.4 x 0.5-2 cm; branching dichotomous, axils acute and branches moderately divergent, internodes distinct but not greatly elongated, up to 3 cm, branches generally not diminishing greatly in diam upwards, some terminal branches distinctively enlarged, up to l.5 cm broad, resembling some of the irregular clubs of Clavariadelphus, bifid to antlered near apices; apices rounded or blunt. Consistency fleshy-fibrous when fresh, drying hard. Context of the stipe inamyloid; reaction with 10 percent Fe₂(SO₄)₃ immediate, and both fresh and dried sporocarps reactive with 20 percent KOH, dried sporocarps turning red; pyrogallol, 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol, phenol and aniline negative. Spores 9-10.5 x 4-5 µm, average 9.3 x 4.7 µm, elongate-ellipsoidal, apiculus prominent up to 3 x 2 µm, ornamented with fine, lobed, cyanophilous warts, some spores nearly smooth. Basidia clavate, 65-75 x 8-8.5 µm, without basal clamps, 2-4-sterigmate; sterigmata 5-8 µm long, straight, not divergent; spores embedded in a thickened hymenium and subhymenium, which combined are 135-211 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae interwoven 3-6 µm diam, thin-walled, without clamps. Context hyphae subparallel to definitely interwoven in the stipe, parallel in the branches, mostly non-inflated in the stipe, 5-g µm diam, some cells of the branches highly inflated, 5-22 µm diam, walls smooth or fluted, moderately cyanophilous, hyphae of the stipe very thick-walled, l-4 µm, thick-walled in the branches, 0.25-2.5 µm, ampulliform inflations near septa rare, 13-20 µm diam, walls of swellings distinctly ornamented in the stipe, less so in the branches; clamps absent; gleoplerous hyphae not observed.

Ramaria concolor f. marrii is characterized by a amphigenous hymenium, its distinct form and the size of the spores.

Basidiomata up to 6 cm high, up to 4.5 cm broad, stipitate, repeatedly branched, arising from a white mycelial mat and white rhizomorphic strands. Stipe cinnamon buff, up to 1.5 cm long,bruising to sayal brown, branches lax, curvedascending, open to somewhat divaricate, mostly dichotomous, cinnamon buff; axils open to lunate, concolorous to surrounding branches; apices delicate, digitate, cream buff to pale ochraceous buff. Odor not pronounced, weakly of anise; taste bitter, weakly astringent, not acrid. Hymenium in FSW slowly slate green, purple-blue to purple-black with added ETOH; bright deep blue in GUA, yellow-brown to copper-brown in KOH; negative in ANW, PYR, ANO. Spores 7.8-10 x 3.7-4.8 µm, elongate-ovoid to ellipsoid, adaxially flattened, toughened in profile; contents aguttulate to uniguttulate, the guttule acyanophilous; wall up to 0.3 µm thick, moderately cyanophilous; apiculus prominent, eccentric, truncate, moderately cyanophilous; ornamentation of obscure, low warts or ridges, moderately cyanophilous, hardly anastomosing, ill-defined. Cystidioid structures in hymenium hyphal, 1.5 µm diam, projecting from hymenial surface up to 40 µm, thin-wall, gnarled, often once-branched, leptocystidial.

Ramaria cyaneigranosa is characterized by its scarlet red basidiome, basidia with masses of cyanophilous granules, spores 4.5 µm or wider, with verrucose ornamentations, and redto violet brown reactions with phenol and aniline. Ramaria stuntzii, R. cyaneigranosa and R. araiospora are all distinctively red-colored taxa. Ramaria stuntzii is bright scarlet in youth, and is easily distinguished from other two taxa by its robust habit and amyloid context. Ramaria cyaneigranosa is red to salmon, and R. araiospora is magenta red, at least in var. rubella. The three varieties of R. cyaneigranosa are separated on sporocarp color, form, and spore length. Variety cyaneigranosa has the longest spores, the most intensely red branches, and yellow tips. Variety elongata has a slender spindly habit and red primordial tips fading during maturation but never yellow, and var. persicina is peach or salmon, not at all red, with minutely yellow-dotted tips.

Basidiomata 4-12 x 2-11 cm, white, branches pale red, apices sometimes nearly concolorous, usually minutely dotted with pale yellow or red-yellow, context concolorous, or paler in the center of branches. Dried sporocarps yellow-white at the base, branches gray-orange or paler, context concolorous. Taste and Odor not distinctive. Base single or subcompound, 0.5-3.5 x 0.4-3 cm, arising from a slender, taproot-like structure, stipe or component axes of the base frequently thick or slightly bulbous; branching 3-5 times from the base, lower nodes usually polychotomous, branches frequently connate, axils acute to u-shaped and branches slightly divergent, internodes often short, especially upper ones, branches slender to somewhat flattened and wider, shortly furcate, polydigitate or nodulose near apices; apices subacute to rounded. Consistency-fleshy-fibrous when fresh, drying brittle. Context of the stipe inamyloid; phenol and aniline positive; weak reactions with guaiac,guaiacol, pyrogallol, and 1-naphthol sometimes occurring. Spores 8-15 x 4-6 µm, average 11.0 x 4.6 µm, subcylindrical, ornamented with distinct, irregularly shaped cyanophilous warts, spores print pale yellow. Basidia clavate, 49-80 x 6.12 µm, without basal clamps, protoplasm granular and cyanophilous, l-4-sterigmate; sterigmata 4-10 µm long, straight or slightly incurved, slightly divergent or erect; hymenium and subhymenium 60-70 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae interwoven, 2-5 µm diam, without clamps, thin-walled. Context hyphae parallel to interwoven in the base, parallel in the branches, crystalloid masses occurring in the context of the stipe, hyphae noninflated in the stipe, 3-10 µm diam, slightly to highly inflated in the branches, 3-20 µm diam, walls smooth, cyanophilous, and thin-walled, ampulliform inflations near septa, 9-14 µm diam, walls of the swellings slightly ornamented; clamps absent, false clamps sometimes present; gleoplerous hyphae present, 2-4 µm diam except in localized bulbous regions where they may be up to 5-6 µm diam.

Ramaria fasciculata var. sparsiramosa

Fruit bodies (Fig. 13) up to 6 x 4 cm, subspherical to broadly obovate in outline. Stipe slender (up to 4 mm thick), fasciculate in groups of up to 10 individuals, loosely bound by superficial white tomentum, rooting somewhat, white where protected. Branches of individual fruit bodies in 2-4ranks, slender (up to 3 mm thick below, 2 mm or less above), terete, fleshy pallid salmon to salmon colored (pale salmon orange, salmon color, flesh ocher,) to pallid ochre (pale ochraceous buff); flesh solid to locally hollow, white, somewhat stringy; axils narrowly rounded; internode ratio diminishing rather abruptly apically in maturity; apices pale yellow (' 'maize yellow, pinard yellow, pale ochraceous salmon, cream color), minutely double-dichotomous when young, minutely digitate by maturity. Odor negligible to mildly aromatic; taste negligible to mildly fabaceous. Macrochemical reactions not recorded.

Tramal hyphae of upper branches up to 10 µm diam, hyaline, thin-walled, clampless, parallel. Hymenium not significantly thickening; basidia 45-55 x 6-7 µm, clavate, clampless; sterigmata 4.

Spores 7.2-9.7 x 4.7-5.8 µm, broadly ovate to broadly cylindrical, obscurely roughened in profile; wall thin, easily collapsed; contents one- to two-guttulate, the guttules golden, refringent; hilar appendix gradual, almost perpendicular to spore axis; ornamentation none to obscure, small warts often indiscemable proximal to median area; suprahilar struma present.

Ramaria conjunctipes var. sparsiramosa produces smaller, more slender, less branched fruit bodies than the Nova Scotian sporocarps, and smaller spores (6-10 x 4-6.5 µm). Spores of R.c. var. tsugensis apparently are identical with fruit bodies associated with western hemlock. It is likely that R.c. var. tsugensis does not differ significantly from R. fasciculata and that further study will conclude that they are synonymous.

Ramaria gelatiniaurantia is characterized by a gelatinous, bright orange sporocarp that does not bruise or or when it does it is dull violet, and with spores averaging 9.3 x 4.1 µm. Ramaria sandracina differs by having clamped hyphae. Variety gelatiniaurantia and violeitinges are separated from each other by the color of the apices, the macrochemical reaction with guaiac, and the prominence or rarity of gleoplerous hyphae in the base.

Basidiomata 6-22 x 4-11 cm, white, pale yellow to sunflower yellow immediately above the substratum level, most of the exposed branches and especially the apices deep orange, context of the stipe marbled, translucent gray-white alternating with waxy opaque white areas, sunflower yellow at least in the ultimate branches. Dried sporocarps mostly champagne with darker streaks of rust brown, mature apices concolorous, immature apices carrot red. Taste not distinctive. Odor-fabaceous. Base compound, consisting of numerous, connate, gelatinous primary axes in various stages of development; branching up to 9 times from the base, mostly dichotomous, axils acute to turbinate and branches scarcely divergent, internodes elongating up to 4 cm in length, lower branches sometimes laterally fused, up to 2 cm in diam, upper branches slender, commonly 1-4 mm in diam, forked to finely divided near the apices; apices mostly acute. Consistency definitely gelatinous and especially in the base when fresh, drying hard and brittle. Context of the stipe inamyloid; pyrogallol, 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol, phenol and aniline negative. Spores 8-11 x 3.5-5 µm, average 9.3 x 4.1 µm, subcylindrical, ornamented with small, lobed cyanophilous warts. Basidia clavate, 70-82 x 8-11 µm, without basal clamps, 4-sterigmate; sterigmata 4-5 µm long, straight, not divergent; hymenium and subhymenium combined 75-110 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae interwoven, 2-3 µm diam, thin-walled, without clamps. Context hyphae interwoven in the stipe, parallel in the branches, hyphae mostly non-inflated, 3-5 µm diam in the stipe and 3-12 µm diam in the branches, walls smooth, surrounded by gelatinous matrix, scarcely cyanophilous, with thin walls, cyanophilous globular inclusions common, hyphae frequently vesicular near septa, 9-17 µm diam, walls of the swellings moderately thick up to 2 µm, distinctly ornamented in the stipe, less ornamented in the branches; clamps absent, occasionally false clamps present; gleoplerous hyphae rare, mostly slender, 2-3.5 µm diam.

Ramaria gracilis is characterized by an appearance somewhat resembling Ramariopsis kunzei in form and color, possession of smal,l delicately ornamented, broadly cylindrical to ovoid spores,and skeletal hyphae with strongly cyanophilous walls.

Basidiomata 2.5 x 2 cm, pale orange, ultimate branches milk white, context white. Dried sporocarps slightly more brown than pale yellow. Taste and odor not recorded. Stipe single, slender, 0.3 x 0.2 cm, with a distinct felty white basal tomentum and rhizomorphic strands; branching about 5 times from the stipe, dichotomous to polychotomous, axils mostly acute and branches slightly divergent, lower internodes elongated to approximately 0.6 cm, branches with a slight thick appearance, although with maximum diameter about 2 mm, sometimes flattened at nodes and terminal nodes slightly flabellate, bifid to cristate near apices; apices acute. Consistency coriaceous when fresh, drying brittle. Context of stipe inamyloid; pyrogallol, 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol, phenol, and aniline negative. Spores average 5.3 x 3.5 µm, range 5-6.5 x 3.5-4 µm, ellipsoid to ovoid with a prominent apiculus, delicately ornamented with shallow, lobed, cyanophilous warts in subspiral arrangement. Basidia clavate, 37-48 x 5-7 µm, basally clamped, 4-sterigmate; sterigmata 4-6 µm long, straight, not divergent; hymenium about 40 µm thick and the subhymenium 25 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae compactly interwoven, 2-3 µm diam, clamped, thin-walled. Rhizomorphs and mycelial strands dimitic, generative hyphae thin-walled, clamped, 2-3 µm diam, skeletal hyphae straight, l.2-2.5 µm diam, thick-walled to the point of closing the lumen; hyphae of the tomentum narrow, about 2 µm diam. Context hyphae context of the stipe interwoven, parallel in the branches, dimitic, generative hyphae thinwalled, non-inflated, 3-10 µm diam, ampulliform inflations near septa 9-13 µm diam, walls of the swellings smooth to delicately ornamented, clamps abundant, often of the open type; skeletal hyphae 3-6 µm diam, straight to undulated in outline, thickwalled 0.5-2 (-3) µm, strongly cyanophilous and conspicuously differentiated from generarive hyphae when stained in cotton blue; gleoplerous hyphae not observed.

Ramaria hilaris var. olympiana is characterized by a gelatinous trama and non-clamped basidia.

Basidomata up to 10 x 6 cm, broadly fusiform to broadly obconic in outline. Stipe up to 17 x 13 mm, single, tapering to a point, smooth, without abortive branchlets, rubbery in texture, off-white at base, upward bright rich yellow; surface slippery although not moist; flesh firm-gelatinous, translucent, more or less hyaline, white outward. Branches ascending, erect to somewhat divergent, more or less terete, bright yellow below, upward a lively pallid salmon; flesh firm-gelatinous, brittle, progressively yellower upward, with no pink tints; internodes diminishing gradually upward; axils rounded to minutely turbinate. Apices minutely digitate when young, usually dichotomous, elongating somewhat by maturity, bright rich yellow, hardly fading in maturity. Odor faintly fabaceous; taste negligible. SYR weakly positive on outer tissues; FCL positive; ANW, PHN, PYR equivocal to weakly positive; ANO, GUA, NOH, IKI, TYR, KOH negative. Stipe tramal hyphae 4-16 µm diam, hyaline, clampless, wall up to 0.5 µm thick, tightly interwoven, with occasional lacunae of agglutinating material; ampulliform inflations usually at septa, up to 21 µm broad, wall up to 1 µm thick, with extensive stalactitiform ornamentation; gloeoplerous hyphae not observed. Tramal hyphae of upper branches 4-17 µm diam, inflated (especially inward), hyaline, thin-walled, clampless, parallel, tightly packed, adherent; wall occasionally torulose, especially near septa; ampulliform inflations at septa, symmetrical, thin-walled, occasionally with delicate stalactitiform ornamention; gloeoplerous hyphae occasional, 3-4 µm diam, equal, yellow-refringent, tortuous. Subhymenium thick, pseudoparenchymatous. Hymenium thickening; basidia 57-68 x 8-9 µm, clavate, clampless; contents with scattered minute granules and small guttules; sterigmata 4, slender, straight. Spores 9.4-11.2 x 4.0-5.0 µm, ellipsoid, usually flattened adaxially, obscurely roughened in profile; contents dense, yellow, usually with 1-2 more refringent areas, but not with defined inclusions; wall up to 0.2 µm thick; hilar appendix not prominent; ornamentation of scattered small, flat, occasionally lobed warts.

Ramaria largentii is characterized by the large, grossly ornamented spores that average 13.4 x 4.5µm. Approaching R. largentii in spore size and color of the sporocarp is R. longispora, a taxon without clamp connections. Ramaria longispora differs further in its slender habit, compound base, and negative reactions with 1-naphthol and guaiac.

Basidiomata 12-15 x 7-14 cm, white to pale yellow, branches pale orange, concolorous or more intensely colored towards the apices, about Persian orange. Context of the stipe white, the subsurface of branches concolorous becoming lighter towards the center. Dried sporocarps mostly gray-orange, the base more grayand the context paler. Taste not distinctive. Odor-slightly sweet. Base 4 x 5 cm, single or subfasciculate, cylindrical or broadly conical, with a basal tomentum, small abortive branches frequently diverging from the upper base; branching up to 9 times from the base, mostly polychotomous in the lower nodes and dichotomous above, axils subacute to u-shaped, branches subparallel to moderately divaricate, internodes of mature sporocarps elongated, the lower ones up to 4 cm long, branches slender, generally less than 1 cm in diam, bifid to multifid near the apices; apices rounded. Consistency fleshy-fibrous when fresh, drying brittle with chalky-friable properties. Context of the stipe inamyloid; 1-naphthol and guaiac positive, guaiacol sometimes weak; pyrogallol, phenol, and aniline negative. Spores 11-15 x 3.5-5 µm, average 13.4 x 4.5 µm, subcylindrical, ornamented with conspicuous, irregularly shaped, cyanophilous warts in subspirals, spores golden yellow in deposit. Basidia clavate, 65-102 x 9-13 µm, basally clamped, mostly 4-sterigmate; sterigmata 3-8 µm long, incurved or straight, slightly divergent; hymenium 65-110 µm thick, and the subhymenium about 25 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae compactly interwoven, 2.5-5 µm diam, clamped, thinwalled. Context hyphae a loosely interwoven tomentum covering stipe, cells 2.5-3.5 µm diam, context of the stipe compactly interwoven, parallel in the branches, cells non-inflated to moderately inflated, 4-15 µm diam, walls smooth, cyanophilous, thin-walled, occasionally hyphae ampulliform near septa, 7-20 µm diam, walls of the swellings slightly ornamented in the stipe; clamps less abundant in the context than in the subhymenium, the clamp cell sometimes enlarged to about 7 µm; gleoplerous hyphae common, 2.5-4 µm diam or up to 9 µm diam in localized bulbous regions.

Ramaria lorithamnusis characterized by the non-clamped tissues, and the fasciculate, sparingly branched sporocarp that lacks any pink or salmon coloration.

Basidiomata up to 8 x 4.5 cm, fasciculate or densely cespitose, branched, ellipsoid in profile; individual sporocarps branched once or twice (rarely three times), slender, erect, with several arising from clustered primordia to give the appearance of larger, more complexly branched sporocarps. Stipe almost absent, to 1 x 4 mm, white where protected, smooth, not involving significant substrate on picking, cream colour upward. Major branches 2, terete, erect, yellow to slightly green-yellow, brighter below when young; axils narrowly rounded; internodes diminishing gradually. Apices awl-shaped, pale yellow, especially when young; dirt specks weak vinescent; bruises sometimes vinescent, then rusty brown. Odor faintly fabaceous. Taste negligible or weakly fabaceous. PYR, IKI negative; KOH, NOH, PHN rusty brown; GUA slowly, weakly positive; FCL slowly green-black; ANO ambiguous. Tramal hyphae of branches 3-7.5 µm diam., thinwalled, without clamp connections, parallel, somewhat inflated, of two types: (i) homogeneous in content and (ii) with submottled contents under phase contrast, suggestive of gloeoplerous consistency. Tramal hyphae of stipe similar, wall up to 0.2 µm thick; ampulliform septa common, up to 10 µm bread, somewhat thick-walled, unornamented. Subhymenium extensive; hyphae 1.5-2.5 µm diam., without clamp connections. Hymenium thickening; basidia 60-70 x 9-12 µm, clavate, clampless; contents multiguttulate; sterigmata 4, up to 7 µm long, somewhat curved, erect. Spores 7.9-9.4 x 4.7-5.8 µm, ovate to ellipsoid; contents unito biguttulate; wall up to 0.2 µm thick, thinner distally; hilar appendix papillate; ornamentation of meandering low warts and ridges.

Ramaria maculatipes is characterized by its clamped hyphae, an amyloid reacting context, red-brown stains or bruises, and negative macrochemical tests. Ramaria amyloidea, R. rasilispora, and R. rubricarnata are three other taxa with clamped hyphae which have an amyloid reacting context. Ramaria maculatipes is readily distinguished from these taxa either by sporocarp color or macrochemical reactions other than amyloidity. Ramaria rubribrunnescens has approximately the same sporocarp color and staining as R. maculatipes, but it differs in having clampless hyphae, inamyloid context, and larger spores.

Basidiomata 10 x 6 cm, orange white, base and lower branches staining or bruising red, branches peach, apices pale yellow, context concolorous with surface. Sporocarps generally drying paler than gray-orange, upper branches retaining a faint tinge of salmon and stained areas dark red-brown, the context orange white or slightly more salmon in the upper branches, water-marbled. Taste not distinctive. Odor slight, not distinctive. Stipe single, tapering, 2-4 x 1.5-2 cm; branching up to 7 times from the stipe, nodes frequently polychotomous, axils acute or turbinate and branches moderately divergent, internodes moderately elongated, the maximum length approx 3 cm occurring in the lower internodes, lower branches up to 2.5 cm in diam, upper branches mostly 2-6 mm in diam; polydigitate or polynodulose near apices; apices rounded. Consistency fleshy-fibrous when fresh, drying brittle and chalky-friable. Context of the stipe slowly amyloid; application of guaiac to the stipe context blue; pyrogallol, 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol, phenol and aniline negative. Spores average 10.2 x 4.3 µm, range 9-11 x 4-5 µm, subcylindrical with a slight suprahilar depression and dorsal convexity, ornamented with fine, cyanophilous warts in subspirals, spores in deposit gray-orange. Basidia clavate, 57-80 x 8-9 µm, basally clamped, 4-sterigmate; sterigmata 2-5 µm long, straight or slightly incurved, slightly divergent; hymenium about 80 µm thick and the subhymenium 35 µm thick. Subyhmenial hyphae interwoven, 2-4 µm diam, clamps abundant, frequently of the keyhole type, thin-walled. Context hyphae a collapsing basal tomentum present, cells 2-5 µm diam, context of the stipe very compactly interwoven, parallel in the branches, cells non-inflated to slightly inflated, 4-13 µm diam, walls of the branches slightly fluted, thin-walled in the branches 0.25-1 µm, slightly thicker in the stipe, up to 1.5 µm, cyanophilous, vesiculation of cells near septa rare, if present; clamps abundant, either of the closed or open type; gleoplerous hyphae abundant in the stipe, rare in the branches, forming bulbous regions 8-20 µm diam, except for these localized regions the diam 4-6 µm.

Ramaria rainierensis is characterized by a terrestrial habit, cream to buff-colored sporocarps, spores of the R. formosa-type, and skeletal hyphae with nearly acyanophilous walls.

Basidiomata 2-8 x 0.4-7 cm, entirely yellow-white when young, at maturity pale gray-orange, the basal tomentum white, and the terminal branches slightly paler than the lower ones, context orange white to brown-, with a distinct stem and a fan-shaped spreading of branches above. Dried sporocarps with a white basal tomentum, otherwise almost entirely a shade paler than gray-orange, the context orange white. Taste bitter. Odor negligible in young sporocarps, in older sporocarps resembling anise. Stipe single, slender, 0.5-3.5 x 0.2-1 cm, basally covered by a felty tomentum, surface of stipe and lower branches scurry; young sporocarps sparsely branched, about 3 ranks, but branching up to 6 times from the base in older sporocarps, mostly dichotomous, axils subacute to narrowly u-shaped, branches slightly divergent, slender, 2-8 mm diam, slightly flattened especially at nodes, internodes varying from 0.2-2.5 cm in length, shortly forked, cristate or rarely single near apices; apices acute. Consistency coriaceous when fresh, drying brittle. Context of the stipe inamyloid; pyrogallol, 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol and aniline positive. Spores 7-10 x 4.5-6 µm, average 8.5 x 5 µm, ellipsoidal with a prominent lateral apiculus that is commonly 1 x 1.5 µm, ornamented with distinct, lobed, cyanophilous warts arranged in subspirals, spores.in deposit apricot yellow. Basidia clavate, 50-77 x 7-11 µm, basally clamped, cyanophilous globular inclusions sometimes conspicuous, l-5-sterigmate, mostly 4; sterigmata 4-9 µm long, straight or slightly incurved, slightly divergent; the hymenium 55-85p thick and the subhymenium 15 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae interwoven, 2-3.5 µm diam, clamped, thin-walled. Rhizomorphs dimitic, generative hyphae 2-3.5 µm diam, ampulliform inflations near septa common, 8-16 µm diam, walls of the swellings ornamented, skeletal hyphae 2-6 µm diam, straight, walls 1-3 µm thick, acyanophilous. Context hyphae hyphae of the tomentum narrow, 2-3.5 µm diam, context of the stipe parallel near the surface, otherwise interwoven, subparallel in the branches, dimitic, branches mostly with generative hyphae, non-inflated, 3-10 µm diam, walls smooth, slightly cyanophilous, thin, skeletal hyphae sparsely distributed in the stipe, thick-walled, 1.5-3 µm; clamps abundant, frequently of the loop type, vesiculation near septa or of clamp cells common, 7-15 µm diam, walls of the swellings smooth to moderately ornamented; gleoplerous hyphae not observed.

Ramaria rubella f. blanda is characterized by the absence of the bright mauve-pink coloration of the rhizomorphic strands in 10 percent KOH, slightly smaller spores than variety rubella, and the distinctily unilateral hymenium. Ramaria rubella f. blanda is similar to R. polonica. The sporocarps of the latter are even more lax and usually arise on the side or underside of rotting logs. In addition, R. polonica usually produces cystidioid elements in the hymenium.

Basidiomata up to 8 cm high, up to 5.5 cm broad, fusiform to subspherical in general outline, repeatedly branched, lignicolous. Stipe very short, almost branched from base, up to 1 cm thick, flattened to lobed in cross-section, arising from copious basal mycelium, white at base, upward concolorous with branches; discrete rhizomorphic strands, or a combination of these, white or off-white, separable from substrate and ramifying through it, extensive, unchanging or yellow in 10 percent KOH. Branches up to 4 mm thick, more or less strict to open and spreading, often flattened, especially at axils, and then branching somewhat antler-like, pink-buff, fawn color, pale pink-cinnamon, pale vinaceous cinnamon, to avellaneous. Flesh white, tough. Internodes diminishing gradually, axils narrowly to broadly rounded, usually sterile, the sterile area decurrent by a line; hymenium occasionally amphigenous to predominantly unilateral, smooth; sterile surface rugulose, apparently somewhat paler than hymenium, apices delicate and erect to open and roundeddichotomous, white to pale cream color. Taste acrid. Odor not distinct. Hymenium in FSW deep olive-grey. Basidia 45-50 x 7.4-8.9 µm, clavate, clamped, 4-sterigmate; contents homogeneous; sterigmata straight, divergent, peripheral. Spores 6.3-8.1 x 4.4-5.9 µm, broadly ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, roughened in profile cinnamon buff in prints; slightly flattened adaxially; wall up to 0.5 µm thick; contents apparently homogeneous to uniguttulate, the guttule refringent under phase contrast; apiculus prominent, eccentric, over 1 µm long, often with hump at upper base, tapering distally; ornamentation of scattered prominent warts or short meandering ridges.

Ramaria rubribrunnescens is characterized by red-brown stains. Ramaria cystidiophora var. maculans, R. maculatipes, R. vinosimaculans, and R. rubiginosa also develop these red-brown stains. Ramaria rubribrunnescens differs from these taxa because it lacks clamps and has longer spores.

Basidiomata 7-16 x 5.5-11 cm, white to orange-white, branches of immature sporocarps red with pale yellow apices, in age the general coloration a shade browner than pale orange, the base and lower branches staining red, in age the staining extensive in the lower parts, context concolorous with the surface. Dried sporocarps generally gray-pale yellow, in places apricot yellow, stained regions retaining some of the red-brown color, context pale yellow. Taste-not distinctive. Odor sweet in age, resembling anise. Stipe single, frequently slender and tapering; e.g., 1 x 0.7 cm, basal abortive or primordial branches common in young sporocarps, in older sporocarps the stipe a subfascicle of several to numerous slender primary branches; branching up to 9 times from the stipe, mostly dicgotomous at least in the upper nodes, axils subacute or narrowly u-shaped, branches slightly divergent, internodes elongated at maturity, branches generally slender, mostly 1-5 mm diam, bifid to finely divided near apices; apices acute to rounded. Consistency fleshy-fibrous when fresh, drying brittle and chalky-friable. Context of stipe inamyloid; weak reaction to 1-naphthol, guaiac, and guaiacol; pyrogallol, phenol and aniline negative. Spores 10-14 x 3.5-5 µm, average 12.3 x 4.4 µm, subcylindrical with a slight suprahilar depression and dorsal convexity, entire spore wall cyanophilous, ornamentations very fine, some spores smooth or nearly so, in deposit gray-yellow. Basidia clavate, 41-67 x 8-11 µm, without basal clamps, content of the hymenial cells strongly cyanophilous, 2-4-sterigmate; sterigmata 5-7 µm long, slightly incurved and divergent; hymenium and subhymenium combined 80-90 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae interwoven, 2.5-4 µm diam, thin-walled, without clamps. Context hyphae interwoven in the stipe, parallel in the branches, cells mostly not inflated, 2-6 µm diam in the stipe, 4-13 µm diam in the branches, conspicuous cyanophilous globules present in the hyphae of the branches, hyphal walls smooth or fluted, moderately cyanophilous, thin to slightly thick-walled, 0.25-1.5 (-2) µm, ampulliform inflations near septa infrequent, 9-12 µm, walls of the swellings moderately ornamented in the stipe, nearly smooth in the branches; clamps absent; gleoplerous hyphae present but not abundant, mostly 2-4.5 µm diam.

Ramaria rubrievanescens is characterized by the evanescence of the pink color, present only in primordial branch tips.

Basidiomata 7-8 x 6.5-8.5 cm, milk-white discoloring yellow, bruising brown-violet, primordial branch tips flushed with pink, pink coloration lost during maturation and soon after collecting, mature branches yellow-white, context white. Stipe of dried sporocarps yellow-white with small areas of yellow-brown, branches drying one or two shades paler than gray-orange, context yellow-white. Taste-slightly similar to nuts. Odor faintly sweet. Stipe single, cylindric or conic, massive, 3.5-9 x 2-4.5 cm, with occasional small abortive or primordial branches; branch systems crowded, vertically compressed on the stipe and curving inwards about 1-4 cm long, branching 2-5 times, lower branches usually very short and broad, 2-4 cm diam, connation frequent in lower parts, upper branches mostly 1-4 mm diam, axils u-shaped, slightly divergent, bifurcate to pluridigitate near apices; apices obtuse, rounded or decidedly blunt. Consistency punky firm when fresh, drying hard. Context of stipe slowly amyloid; pyrogallol, 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol, phenol, and aniline negative. Spores 11-13 x 4-5.5 µm, average 11.7 x 4.9 µm, mummy-shaped, ventral surface curving sharply to the apiculus, ornamented with conspicuous, cyanophilous striae, spores pale yellow in deposit. Basidia clavate, 55-87 x 8-11 µm, clamped at base, containing strongly cyanophilous globules, mostly 4-sterigmate, occasionally 2; sterigmata 3-7 µm long, straight, not divergent, also containing cyanophilic inclusions; hymenium about 60 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae interwoven, 2.5-4.5 µm diam, thin-walled, clamped, with globular cyanophilous inclusions. Context hyphae interwoven in the stipe, branches mostly thin-walled, 0.25-1 µm, wall surface smooth to fluted, ampulliform swellings near septa 9-12 µm diam, walls of the swellings distinctly ornamented; clamps frequent, closed or open, the clamp cell sometimes enlarged; gleoplerous hyphae interweaving throughout context, generally 3-5 µm diam, in vesicular regions up to 12 µm diam.

Ramaria rubripermanens is characterized by its short spores, the red color of terminal branches that persists at maturity and sporocarps that do not bruise red to violet brown.

Basidiomata 9-13 x 9-16 cm, milk-white to yellow-white, lower branches orange to red-white, branch tips pink-white to dull red, not losing red coloration at maturity, context white. Base of dried sporocarp slightly more brown than pale yellow, lower branches concolorous or slightly darker, apices frequently drying darker, fawn brown, occasionally retaining a faint redtint, context pale yellow. Taste not distinctive. Odor musty sweet. Stipe single, cylindric or conic, massive, 3-8 x 4 cm with occasional small abortive or primordial branches; branch systems crowded, vertically compressed on stipe, about 2-4 cm long, branching 2-4 times, lower branches usually very short and broad, 2-4 cm diam, connation frequent in lower parts, upper branches mostly 1-4mm diam, axils mostly acute to subacute, slightly divaricate, pluridigitate near apices; apices subacute to rounded. Consistency punky-firm when fresh, drying hard. Context of stipe slowly amyloid; pyrogallol, 1-naphthol, guaiac, guaiacol, phenol, and aniline negative. Spores average 10.3 x 3.8 µm, range 8-13 x 3.5-4.5 µm, subellipsoid to mummy-shaped, ornamented with oblique to longitudinal striae, striae distinctly more cyanophilous than general wall. Basidia clavate, 31-62 x 7-11 µm, basally clamped, contents densely cyanophilous, mostly 4-sterigmate, occasionally 2; sterigmata 3-6 µm long, straight, not divergent; hymenium about 40-50 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae interwoven, 2-4 µm diam, thin-walled, clamped, with cyanophilous globular inclusions. Context hyphae interwoven in the stipe, parallel in the branches, 4-15 µm diam, hyphae of the stipe thin to thick-walled, 0.25-2.5 µm, hyphae of the branches mostly thin-walled, 0.25-1 µm, wall surface smooth to fluted, numerous cyanophilous globules present and conspicuous in the hyphae of the branches, ampulliform inflations near septa, 11-23 µm diam, walls of the swellings distinctly ornamented, especially those in the stipe; clamps frequent; gleoplerous hyphae interweaving throughout the context, 3.5-5 µm diam or in vesicular regions up to 20 µm diam.

Ramaria spinulosa var. diminutiva is characterized by the brown base, non-clamped hyphae and wide spores.

Basidiomata up to 13 x 10 cm, usually much smaller, obpyriform in outline. Stipe up to 5 x 2.3 cm, usually much narrower, gnarled, smooth, with a few abortive branchlets upward, sometimes mycelial at very base, deep tan to brown overall, often orange-brown below, staining brown where handled; flesh firm to somewhat tough, dull brown, streaked as though with wood grain. Major branches 3-5, more or less terete, up to 1.5 cm thick, concolorous with branches. Branches in 3-6 ranks, ascending, often rugulose longitudinally, brown to somewhat violaceous brown; internodes diminishing gradually at maturity; axils narrowly rounded; upper branches 1-1.5 mm thick, equal, erect, giving a delicate appearance. Apices subcristate to irregularly digitate when young, extending to digitate by maturity, rounded, not inflated, violaceous brown when young, concolorous with branches at maturity. Odor negligible or faintly of chocolate Taste faintly sour. FCL positive; SYR, CRE, IKI, PHN, PYR, GUA, ANO, ANW, negative. Spores 7.2-10.1 x 4.7-6.1 µm, broadly cylindrical to ovoid, finely roughened in profile; contents uni- to biguttulate, the guttules yellow-refringent; wall up to 0.2 µm thick; hilar appendage blunt, papillate; ornamentation of small streaks or ridges and small warts, occasionally obliquely oriented.

Ramaria stuntzii is characterized by the intensely scarlet branches of young sporocarps, its robust habit and the strongly amyloid reaction of the stipe.

Basidiomata 6-17 x 4-14 cm, white to pale orange near emergence from the substratum, branches scarlet in youth, fading to pale orange-red during maturation, apices the most intensely colored region of the branches, context concolorous or paler near the center of branches. Stipe of dried sporocarps yellow-white, young branches gray-red, older ones gray-orange, context yellow-white or slightly more redin the branches. Taste slightly bitter. Odor not distinctive. Stipe single, cylindrical to conical, very massive, 2-7 x 2.5-7 cm, bearing small abortive or primordial white branches; young sporocarps with numerous, compact branch systems forming a cauliflower-like mass on the base, mature sporocarps branching up to 9 times from the stipe, internodes variously elongated up to 5 cm, polychotomous to mostly dichotomous in most elongated sporocarps, axils frequently turbinate and nodes slightly flattened; branches slightly to moderately divergent, primary branches of large diam, up to 4 cm, increasingly slender upwards, mostly 0.2-1.5 cm diam, bifid to multifid near apices; apices mostly rounded or nodulose. Consistency punky fibrous when fresh, drying hard at the base and brittle in the branches. Context of the stipe strongly amyloid; phenol, aniline and guaiac, positive; guaiacol and pyrogallol sometimes reactive; 1-naphthol negative. Spores 7-10 x 3-5 µm, average 8.3 x 4 µm, subcylindrical,ornamented with small lobed warts, these slightly more cyanophilous than the general wall, spores in deposit apricot yellow. Basidia clavate, 45-75 x 7-10 (-12) µm, without basal clamps, basidial inclusions cyanophilous and granular, l-4-sterigmate, mostly 4; sterigmata 3-10 µm long, straight, slightly divergent; hymenium and subhymenium combined about 65 µm thick. Subhymenial hyphae-interwoven, 2-4 µm diam, without clamps, thin-walled. Context hyphae subparallel to interwoven in the stipe, parallel in the branches, hyphae mostly non-inflating, 2-15p diam, a few hyphae highly inflated up to 22 µm diam, walls smooth, cyanophilous, thin ampulliform inflations near septa, 9-15 µm diam, wall of the swellings slightly ornamented in the branches, moderately ornamented in the stipe; clamps absent; gleoplerous hyphae 2-4 µm diam with localized bulbous regions up to 16 µm diam.

Ramaria thiersii is characterized by branch sections and stipe flesh that react strongly with most reagents, inamyloid stipe flesh, and roughened spores that average over 13 µm in length.

Basidiomata up to 15 x 8 cm, obpyramidal to subcylindrical in outline; usually under litter layer in gritty soil. Stipe up to 7 x 6 cm, obpyramidal, tapering downward to narrowly rounded base, often sub- geniculate, white, smooth, without abortive branchlets or stumps, weakly to strongly brunnescent where rubbed or bruised; flesh white, not mottled, soft to spongy. Major branches 3-5, ascending to flaring, often split and splintered, hardly terete, white to pale yellow. Branches in 4-6 ranks, terete, erect to flaring, often grooved, white to pallid yellow; flesh soft, stringy, white in hypogeous forms, salmon-colored in exposed fruitbodies; internodes diminishing upward gradually at maturity; axils rounded, often split below. Apices digitate to molar-like when young, coarsely digitate by maturity, white where protected, pallid green-yellow where exposed. Odor and taste negligible. ANO, ANW, PYR, PHN, FCL, SYR positive; KOH darkening on hymenium; NOH, TYR, IKI negative. Stipe tramal hyphae 3-12 µm diam, hyaline, clamped, locally adherent, tightly interwoven, wall up to 1 µm thick; ampulliform inflations as clamps, up to 13 µm broad, ellipsoid, wall up to 2 µm thick, with extensive and coarse stalactitiform ornamentation; gloeoplerous hyphal system represented by short lengths of yellow-refringent hyphae 3-5 µm diam. Tramal hyphae of upper branches 4-12 µm diam, hyaline, wall up to 1 µm thick, clamped, more or less parallel, extensively but not exclusively adherent; ampulliform inflations rare, thin-walled, with extensive but delicate stalactitiform ornamentation; gloeoplerous hyphal system as above, and of bulbous, refringent hyphal tips. Subhymenium rudimentary. Hymenium thickening; basidia 45-50 x 7-8 µm, clavate, clamped; contents granular to minutely multiguttulate; sterigmata 4, stout, straight, subcoronate. Spores 11.6-15.8 x 4-5 µm, cylindrical to narrowly ellipsoid, occasionally subsigmoid, obscurely roughened in profile; contents uni- to bi-guttulate, the guttules yellow-refringent; wall up to 0.2 µm thick; hilar appendix small, gradual; ornamentation of small, discrete low warts.

Ramaria verlotensis is characterized by a broad, cauliflower-like, pale yellow-pink sporocarp, frequent connection of lower branches, branches with rounded or nodulose-crested apices, long basidia, prominently warted spores, averaging 10.1 x 4.9 µm, and non-clamped, gelatinizing, thin-walled hyphae.

Basidiomata up to 13 x 9 cm, apparently broadly obovate to broadly pyriform in outline. Stipe single, small, branches almost from base or with abortive branchlets, white below, mealy to densely but superficially pruinose at base, yellow above at substrate level; flesh solid, whitish, firm-gelatinous to hard-rubbery, watery when fresh, cartilaginous to horny when dry. Major branches curved-ascending, stout, hardly terete, significantly collapsed on drying, now flattened and longitudinally ridged, pallid salmon to salmon colored; flesh apparently gelatinous or watery when fresh; branches dichotomous, flattened; internodes diminishing gradually at maturity; axils often flattened, acute. Apices dichotomous to narrowly ribbon-like (dried), firm-gelatinous, concolorous with branches pale ochraceous salmon to pallid yellow. FCL positive; ANO, ANW,GUA, IKI, PHN, PYR negative. Tramal hyphae of stipe 3-14 µm diam, hyaline, thin-walled, clampless, usually inflated, tightly interwoven, adherent to very locally free; agglutinating substance intercellular (cell walls not degenerating), granular-mucoid, hyaline; ampulliform inflations abundant, wall up to 0.5 µm thick, scallion-shaped, with extensive, coarse stalactitiform ornamentation; gloeoplerous hyphae common, 3-8 µm diam, refringent, with abrupt inflations. Tramal hyphae of upper branches hyaline, thin-walled, non-clamped, of the following types: (1) medullary, 3-15 µm diam, of cigar-shaped cells, adherent, parallel; contents appearing coagulated into amorphous clots, otherwise appearing empty; ampulliform inflations occasional, up to 15 µm broad, thin-walled, unornamented; (2) gloeoplerous hyphae occasional, undelimited, often with tibiiform termination; and (3) cortical, 3-5 µm diam, straight, freely branched, not adherent, loosely arranged. Subhymenium extensive, of tightly interwoven hyphae. Hymenium thickening; basidia 70-80 x 8-10 µm, clavate, inflated apically only at maturity, clampless; contents homogeneous to obscurely vacuolate, weakly cyanophilous; sterigmata 4, straight, spindly. Spores 9.0-11.2 x 4.7-6.1 µm, broadly ellipsoid to subovate, prominently roughened in profile; contents several dark yellow, hardly refringent, irregularly shaped guttules; wall up to 0.3 µm thick; hilar appendix not prominent, perpendicular to spore axis; ornamentation of large warts or low, discrete plates covering extensive wall area; struma prominent.

2. Reproductive Biology

All of these taxa are gilled mushrooms and thus presumed to depend upon wind for spore dispersal; animal (especially arthropod) dispersal is also possible. No specific information on reproductive biology is available for any of these taxa at this time.

3. Ecology

All of these taxa are presumed ectomycorrhiza formers. Mycorrhiza is the symbiotic, mutually beneficial association between a fungus and plant root. This highly interdependent relationship is based on the translocation of mineral nutrients and water by the fungus to the host plant, while the fungus obtains photosynthetic carbon from the host plant. Many plants depend upon mycorrhizal fungi for adequate uptake of nutrient and survival in nature. Likewise mycorrhizal fungi depend upon their host for carbohydrate. No specific information is available for any of these taxa at this time except that all form ectomycorrhiza with Pinaceae.

C. Range, Known Sites

Ramaria amyloidea is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from three sites: Washington: Kittitas Co., Lk. Kachess; Washington, Snohomish Co., Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Glacier Peak Wilderness, Sulphur Cr. California: Siskiyou Co., Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows.

Ramaria araiospora is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from eight sites: Washington: Pierce Co., Dalles Recreation Area; Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Lower Tahoma Cr.; Gray’s Harbor Co., 10 mi. W of Hoquiam; Gray’s Harbor Co., Lake Sylvia State Park; Clallam Co., Olympic National Park, Soleduc Falls. Oregon: Clackamas Co., Mt. Hood National Forest, Eagle Timber Sale. California: Humboldt Co., Big Lagoon; Mendocino Co., Jackson State Forest.

Ramaria aurantiisiccescens is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from four sites: Washington: Lewis Co., Pleasant Valley; Pierce Co., Dalles Recreation Area. California: Siskiyou Co., Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows; Humboldt Co., Fickle Hill Rd.

Ramaria botrytis var. aurantiramosa is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from onesite in Washington: Lewis Co., Pleasant Valley.

Ramaria celerivirescens is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from five sites: Washington: Mason Co., Mason Lake; Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Lower Tahoma Cr.; Snohomish Co., Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Glacier Peak Wilderness, Sulphur Cr.; King Co., 10 mi. E of Enumclaw; California, Humboldt Co., Fickle Hill Rd.

Ramaria claviramulata is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from two sites: Washington: King Co., Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Goldmyer Hot Springs Tr. California: Mendocino Co., Van Damme State Park.

Ramaria concolor f. marii is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from one site in Washington: Snohomish Co., Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Sloan Cr. Campground. It is also reported from one site in northern California with vague locality data, and it is known from Idaho.

Ramaria cyaneigranosa is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from six sites: Washington: Clallam Co., Olympic National Park, Lake Cr. Trail; Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Lower Tahoma Cr.; Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Ipsut Cr. California: Humboldt Co., Big Lagoon; Humboldt Co., Big Hill Rd.; Humboldt Co., Lord Ellis Summit.

Ramaria fasciculata var. sparsiramosa is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from two sites: Washington: Mason Co., Mason Lake and California: Del Norte Co., Jedidiah Smith State Park.

Ramaria gelatiniaurantia is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is from four sites: Washington: Clallam Co., Olympic National Park, Soleduc Falls; Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Ipsut Cr. Oregon: Clackamas Co., Mt. Hood National Forest, Eagle Timber Sale. California: Mendocino Co., Northern California Coast Range Preserve, Elder Cr.

Ramaria gracilis is known from Europe as well as the Pacific Northwest. Within the range of the northern spotted owl, it is known from four sites: Washington: San Juan Co., Friday Harbor. Oregon: Benton Co., Beaver Cr.; California, Mendocino Co., Jackson State Forest. California: Humboldt Co., Fickle Hill.

Ramaria hilaris var. olympiana is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from one report with vague locality data from Jefferson Co., Washington.

Ramaria largentii is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from two sites: Washington: Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Lower Tahoma Cr. California: Siskiyou Co., Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows.

Ramaria lorithamnus is South Pacific disjunct, known from Australia and New Zealand. It is known from one site within the range of the Northern Spotted Owl in Washington: Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Frying Pan Cr. Trail.

Ramaria maculatipes is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from three sites: Washington: Mason Co., Mason Lake. California: Siskiyou Co., Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows; California, Mendocino Co., Jackson State Forest.

Ramaria rainierensis is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from two sites: Washington: Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Panther Cr. near intersection of 123 and California: Humboldt Co., Patrick’s Point State Park.

Ramaria rubella f. blanda is a rare bicoastal endemic known from the Pacific Northwest and the Appalachian Mountains. It is known from two sites within the range of the Northern Spotted Owl: Washington: San Juan Co., Friday Harbor and California: Humboldt Co., Patrick’s Point State Park.

Ramaria rubribrunnescens is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from two sites: Washington: Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Ipsut Campground and California: Mendocino Co., Jackson State Forest. It is also reported from the Olympic Peninsula with vague locality data.

Ramaria rubrievanescens is known from eastern North America, eastern Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest. Within the range of the Northern Spotted Owl it is known from two sites in Washington: Snohomish Co., Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Sloan Cr. Campground and Kittitas Co., Lake Kachess State Park. There is also a report from the east slope of the Oregon Cascades with vague locality data.

Ramaria rubripermanens is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from one site in California: Siskiyou Co., Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows. It is reported with vague locality data from the Olympic Peninsula and the Oregon Cascades.

Ramaria spinulosa is known from Europe as well as the Pacific Northwest. It is known from two sites: Washington: Snohomish Co., Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Glacier Peak Wilderness, Sulphur Cr. and California: Mendocino Co., Van Damme State Park.

Ramaria stuntzii is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from nine sites: Washington: Lewis Co., Pleasant Valley; Clallam Co., Olympic National Park, Soleduc Falls; Gray’s Harbor Co., Lake Sylvia Sate Park; King Co., Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Goldmyer Hot Springs Tr. Oregon: Clackamas Co., Mt. Hood National Forest, Eagle Timber Sale; Marion Co., Salem District, Bureau of Land Management, Clear Down Timber Sale. California: Siskiyou Co., Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows; Mendocino Co., Jackson State Forest; Del Norte Co., Jedidiah Smith State Park.

Ramaria thiersii is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known from one site within the range of the Northern Spotted Owl in California: Mendocino Co., Jackson State Forest. It also is known from one site in the Sierra Nevada Range in California, outside of the assessment area, and from northern Idaho.

Ramaria verlotensis is endemic to the Pacific Northwest. It is known two sites: Washington: Snohomish Co., Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Verlot (campground) and California: Del Norte Co., Jedidiah Smith State Park.

D. Habitat Characteristics and Species Abundance

All of these species form coralloid sporocarps in humus or soil that mature above the surface of the ground. Most of these taxa are associated with Pseudotsuga menziesii and Tsuga heterophylla; Ramaria amyloidea, Ramaria botrytis var. aurantiiramosa, are also reported with Abies spp., and Ramaria rubripermanens is reported with Pinus monticola (Marr and Stuntz, 1973); Ramaria thiersii is reportedly subalpine and often erumpant to subhypogeous (Peterson and Scates, 1988).

II. CURRENT SPECIES SITUATION

A. Why Species is Listed under Survey and Manage Standards and Guidelines

Potentially all taxa are at risk from land management and recreational activities that remove the mycorrhizal host or disturb the litter layer.

These species were included in Appendix J2 of the ROD because they were thought to be uncommon to rare, associated with late-successional forests, and because their distribution patterns across the landscape (i.e., occurrence in Late-successional Reserves vs. matrix), exact sites of occurrence, and reproductive biology are poorly known.

These taxa are rare in California, Oregon, and Washington. Within the range of the northern spotted owl they are known from one to nine populations. Most of these populations are on protected Federal lands with high recreational use. These conspicuous and distinctive species are not easily overlooked in the field, however some species are difficult to identify with confidence. The seemingly preferred habitats of these species is under-collected and in critical need of survey. New populations will likely be found with additional surveys. Under option 9, these taxa all were considered to have a 55 percent likelihood of being well distributed throughout its range, 20 percent likelihood of being locally restricted, 18 percent likelihood of restriction to refugia, and 8 percent likelihood of extirpation on Federal lands. These taxa are believed to be at high risk under the Northwest Forest Plan because of their rarity and disjunct population status.

B. Major Habitat and Viability Considerations

The major viability considerations for these taxa are loss of the known populations within the range of the northern spotted owl due to management or recreational activities which may directly impact the habitat or the population. Considerations include all management or recreational activities that disturb the soil or duff. Likewise the presence of extant populations in high recreational use areas exposes them to adverse impact due to management or recreational activities that remove host trees or associated litter, humus and coarse woody debris or alter understory microclimate.

The autecology of these species is not well known. They are all presumed ectomycorrhiza formers associated with Pinaceae. Therefore disturbance that affects the host will potentially strongly affect this species. Recreational activities are a significant threat to these taxa because many known populations are from high use recreation sites. Fire is a threat to these taxa, it could harm populations from disturbance to soil or by damaging or killing host trees.

Climate change could potentially impact all populations of these taxa. An increase in temperature or a decrease in precipitation could affect disjunct populations.

C. Threats to the Species

Threats to these taxa are those actions that disrupt stand conditions necessary for their survival, particularly damage to host trees and disturbance of soil occupied by host tree roots. These include logging that removes mycorrhizal hosts and other actions that cause disturbance to the soil, particularly road, trail, and campground construction.

These species are not routinely harvested for use as food.

D. Distribution Relative to Land Allocations

Of the three known sites for Ramaria amyloidea, two are congressionally withdrawn: Washington Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Glacier Peak Wilderness, Sulphur Cr.; California, Siskiyou Co., Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows. One site is on non-Federal land.

Ramaria araiospora is known from 2 sites that are congressionally withdrawn: Washington, Mt. Rainier National Park, Lower Tahoma Cr; Olympic National Park, Soleduc Falls. One other site is on matrix land: Oregon, Mt. Hood National Forest, Eagle Timber Sale. Five sites are on non-Federal land

Of the four known sites for Ramaria aurantiisiccescens, three are on non-Federal land, one is congressionally withdrawn: California, Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows.

The one known site for Ramaria botrytis var. aurantiramosa is on non-Federal land.

Of the five known sites for Ramaria celerivirescens, two are Congressionally withdrawn: Washington, Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Lower Tahoma Cr.; Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Glacier Peak Wilderness, Sulphur Cr. Three other sites are on non-Federal land.

Of the two known sites for Ramaria claviramulata, one is administratively withdrawn: Washington, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Goldmyer Hot Springs Tr. One other site is on non-Federal land.

The known site for Ramaria concolor f. marii is administratively withdrawn: Washington, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Sloan Cr. Campground.

Of the six known sites for Ramaria cyaneigranosa, three are Congressionally withdrawn: Washington, Olympic National Park, Lake Cr. Trail; Mt. Rainier National Park, Lower Tahoma Cr.; Mt. Rainier National Park, Ipsut Cr. Three sites are on non-Federal land.

The two known sites for Ramaria fasciculata var. sparsiramosa are on non-Federal land.

Of the four known sites for Ramaria gelatiniaurantia, two are congressionally withdrawn: Washington, Olympic National Park, Soleduc Falls and Mt. Rainier National Park, Ipsut Cr. One site is on matrix land: Mt. Hood National Forest, Eagle Timber Sale. one is non-Federal land

The four known sites for Ramaria gracilis are non-Federal.

The only report of Ramaria hilaris var. olympiana has vague locality data, land allocation is therefore unknown.

The two known sites for Ramaria largentii are congressionally withdrawn: Washington, Mt. Rainier National Park, Lower Tahoma Cr. and California, Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows.

The known site for Ramaria lorithamnus is congressionally withdrawn: Washington, Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Frying Pan Cr. Trail.

Of the three known sites for Ramaria maculatipes, one is congressionally withdrawn: California, Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows. Two other sites are on non-Federal land,

Of the two known sites for Ramaria rainierensis, one is congressionally withdrawn: Washington, Mt. Rainier National Park, Panther Cr. The other site is on non-Federal land.

The two known sites for Ramaria rubella f. blanda are on non-Federal land.

Of the two known sites for Ramaria rubribrunnescens one is congressionally withdrawn: Washington, Mt. Rainier National Park, Ipsut Campground. The other site is on non-Federal land.

Of the two known sites for Ramaria rubrievanescens one is administratively withdrawn: Washington, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Sloan Cr. Campground. The other site is on non-Federal land.

The known site for Ramaria rubripermanens is congressionally withdrawn: Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows.

Of the two known sites for Ramaria spinulosa one one is congressionally withdrawn: Washington, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Glacier Peak Wilderness, Sulphur Cr. The other site is on non-Federal land.

Of the known sites for Ramaria stuntzii, two are congressionally withdrawn: Washington, Olympic National Park, Soleduc Falls and California, Siskiyou Co., Klamath National Forest, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Haypress Meadows. One site is administratively withdrawn: Washington, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Goldmyer Hot Springs Tr. Two sites are in matrix land: Oregon, Mt. Hood National Forest, Eagle Timber Sale and Salem District, Bureau of Land Management, Clear Down Timber Sale. Three other sites are on non-Federal land,

The known site for Ramaria thiersii is on non-Federal land.

Of the two known sites for Ramaria verlotensis, one is administratively withdrawn: Washington, Snohomish Co., Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Verlot (campground). The other known site is on non-Federal land

III. MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

A. Management Goals for Taxon

The goal for the management of these taxa is to assist in maintaining extant populations of this species within the assessment area. Known sites of these rare taxa should be protected until sufficient information is generated to suggest that management will not result in their extirpation.

B. Specific Objectives

Maintain habitat conditions at all known sites on Federal land for all taxa.

IV. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

A. Lessons from History

There has not been any management of sites for these taxa. Since all taxa are presumptive mycorrhiza formers, an abundance of potential hosts should be protected where fungal populations exist. When mycorrhiza host trees are damaged or removed a negative impact is usually reflected in the population of the fungal partner. Although not documented for these species, many fungi are harmed by air pollution, acid deposition, N deposition, and SOx (Gulden et al., 1992).

B. Identification of Habitat Areas for Management

Ramaria amyloidea is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are two populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The sites for Ramaria amyloidea in Klamath and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests should be managed to maintain viability. One other site is on non-Federal Land.

Ramaria araiospora is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There is one known populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The site forRamaria araiospora in Mt. Hood National Forest should be managed to maintain viability. There are two sites for Ramaria araiospora that are in Natioanl Parks, the remainder are on non-Federal land.

Ramaria aurantiisiccescens is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There is one population that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The site for Ramaria aurantiisiccescens in Klamath National Forest should be managed to maintain viability. Two other sites are on non-Federal Land.

Ramaria botrytis var. aurantiramosa is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are no known populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability.

Ramaria celerivirescens is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There is one population with good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The site for Ramaria celerivirescens in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest should be managed to maintain viability. Other sites for Ramaria celerivirescens are Natrinal Parks and non-Federal land.

Ramaria claviramulata is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There is one population that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The population on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest should be managed to maintain viability; the other site is onnon-Federal Land.

There is one population of Ramaria concolor f. marii that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The population on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest should be managed to maintain viability.

Ramaria cyaneigranosa is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are no known populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The known sites are in National Parks and on-Federal land.

Ramaria fasciculata var. sparsiramosa is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are no known populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The known sites are on-Federal land.

Ramaria gelatiniaurantia is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There is one population that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The population on Mt Hood National Forest should be managed to maintain viability.

Ramaria gracilis is known from Europe as well as from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are no known populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The known sites are on non-Federal land.

Ramaria hilaris var. olympiana is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are no known populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The single record of this taxon has vague locality data.

Ramaria largentii is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There is one population that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The population on Klamath National Forest should be managed to maintain viability. The other known site is on non-Federal land.

Ramaria lorithamnus is known from Australia and New Zealand as well as from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are no known populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The known site is in a National Park.

Ramaria maculatipes is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There is one population that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The population on Klamath National Forest should be managed to maintain viability. The other known sites are on non-Federal land.

Ramaria rainierensis is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are no known populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. One site is in a National Park, one is non-Federal land.

Ramaria rubella var. blanda is known from the eastern U.S., as well as within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are no known populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The known sites are on non-Federal land.

Ramaria rubribrunnescens is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are no known populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. One site is in a National Park, one is non-Federal land.

Ramaria rubrievanescens is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There is one known populatio that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The population of Ramaria rubrievanescens on Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest should be managed tomaintain viability.

Ramaria rubripermanens is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There is one population that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The population on Klamath National Forest should be managed to maintain viability. The other known sites are on non-Federal land.

Ramaria spinulosa is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There is one known population that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The population on Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest should be managed to maintain viability. The other known site is on non-Federal land.

Ramaria stuntzii is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are four populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The populations of Ramaria stuntzii on Klamath, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests; and Salem District, BLM should be managed to maintain viability.

Ramaria thiersii is only known from the Western U.S. There are no known populations that have good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The known site is on non-Federal land.

Ramaria verlotensis is only known from within the range of the northern spotted owl. There is one known population that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The population on Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest should be managed to maintain viability. The other known site is on non-Federal land.

C. Management Within Habitat Areas

Status of timber management activities is unknown for extant sites. However, at and around known sites, it is recommended that current habitat conditions and micro-climatic conditions be maintained, impacts from soil disturbing activities minimized, and damage or removal of host trees prevented.

The few known locations on Federal land of these taxa should be managed to include an area that is large enough to maintain the habitat and associated micro-climate of the population. The Regional mycologist is available to consult with field staff and managers on the size of the appropriate area for management.

• Maintain dominance of specific host tree associates as outlined in section 1D, which are necessary for mycorrhizal association.
• Minimize loss, disruption or compaction of soil particularly from management, road construction or recreational activities.
• Manage tree diseases in the area to minimize loss of host trees.

D. Other Management Issues and Considerations

No additional management issues or considerations are identified at this time.

V. Research, Inventory and Monitoring Needs

A. Data Gaps and Information Needs

Revisit known sites of all taxa and collect ecological data to more completely characterize habitat. Conduct surveys to locate additional populations of these taxa particularly in late-successionalreserves, Research Natural Areas and when appropriate where management treatments or projects are scheduled or proposed.

Data are lacking regarding the specific response of these taxa to management practices such as logging, road, trail, and campground construction, prescribed fire and collection of secondary forest products. Also needed are information on each fungus taxon concerning the area required to support viable populations, population age structure, dispersal requirements and maximum distance over which populations can interact. Exact host tree associations for each fungus taxon need documentation.

B. Research Questions

• What is the ecological amplitude of these taxa, particularly are they restricted to late-successional conifer forests?
• Do all of these species require coarse woody debris?
• What level of abundance of coarse woody debris provides habitat for Ramaria spp. ?
• How do they respond to manipulation or modification of the micro-climate?
• What is the impact of fire?
• How soon after removal of hosts and coarse woody debris do they return?

C. Monitoring Needs and Recommendations

Known sites should be revisited periodically to assess compliance with management guidelines and evaluate impacts.

VI. References

Ammirati, J. 1994. Endangered, threatened and sensitive macrofungi of Washington State. Official Letter to C. Turley, Science team leader, Washington State Dept. of Natural resources. Dated March 26, 1994.

Gulden, G.; Hoiland, K.; Bendiksen, K. Brandrud, T.E.; Foss, B.S. Jenssen, H.B.; Laber, D. 1992. Macromycetes and Air Pollution: Mycocoenological studies in three oligotrophic spruce forests in Europe. Bibliotheca Mycologica 144: 1-81.

Marr, C.D. 1996. unpublished report on file, Forestry Sciences Lab. Corvallis, Oregon.

Marr, C.D. and Stuntz D.E. 1973. Ramaria of Western Washington. Biblio. Mycol. 38: 1-232.

Peterson, R.H. 1975. Ramaria subgenus Lentoramaria with emphasis on North American Taxa. Biblio. Mycol. 43: 1-161.

Peterson, R.H. 1982. Contributions toward a monograph of Ramaria V. Type specimen studies of taxa described by W.C. Coker. Sydowia, Ann Myc. Ser. II. 35:176-205.

Peterson, R.H. 1988. Contributions toward a monograph of Ramaria VII: New taxa and miscellany. Mycologia 80: 223-234.

Peterson, R.H. and Scates, C. 1988. Vernally fruiting taxa of Ramaria from the Pacific Northwest. Mycotaxon 33: 101-144.