Ramaria stricta - Upright Coral

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Gomphales

Family: Gomphaceae

Although most Ramaria species are thought to be mycorrhizal, this fairly common coral fungus often grows on buried wood, under Beech trees in particular but also in coniferous forests. It’s possible that Upright Coral has a Jeckyll and Hyde lifestyle and that it may be either mycorrhizal or saprophytic. The specific epithet stricta simply means upright, and although Ramaria stricta branches (in the form of repeated dichotomous forks) all of the branches turn quite sharply to point upwards.

Identification guide

Description	White or pale cream turning buff with age; tough and rubbery coral-like structure with a short base often ‘rooted’ in buried wood; the repeatedly forking, slender upright branches end in sharp tips; surface is smooth, often flattened; spores are produced on the coral surface, which turns wine-red when bruised.
Dimensions	4 to 10cm tall and up to 8cm across the whole fruitbody.
Spore print	Rusty yellow.
Odour/taste	Mature fruitbodies smell faintly of aniseed; the taste is not significant.
Habitat	On buried wood, often under Beeches but also occasionally with conifers. Further evidence that Ramaria stricta can sometimes be saprophytic rather than mycorrhizal comes from its frequent appearance in flowerbeds and other areas that have been mulched using wood chippings.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	Infrequent.
Similar species	Ramaria formosa is pink or orange and its branches do not turn so immediately upright.