Hericium ramosum

Posted by Elmer 10/7/12 - - - - - - - Scroll Down to See Discussion

Elmer: I think this is a Ramaria Lentoramaria, but beyond that I am lost.
It was found 10/4/12 on Bald Mountain
As you will see in the pictures, the spores are round, white and 5 micrometers

Don: That looks like hericium.
aceca: i agree--looks like hericium abietis,
you lucky dog. (as ever, don't eat it until you're 100% sure!)

Dick B: Spore size is consistent with Hericium but also with some Lento and Enchino Ramaria.

Judy: Looks closer to a Hericium with those fine,
shaggy branch tips, as nearly all the Ramarias are more blunt on the tips.
Ramaria subgenera Echino- and Lentoramaria species have thin multi-branches
and no large base as does your gorgeous specimen.
At first I thought the tips were pinky/orange,
and was led to R. botrytoides in the Laeticolorea subgenus
(a non-clamped subgenus) but think the color is from drying.
So think Dick is correct in Hericium abeitis. Great find!!!

Galbi: The spore size and shape is consistent with Hericium abeitis, but, lots of sources say that Hericium abeitis has hanging "clusters of teeth, the latter typically between 0.5 and 1.0 cm long". In so far as I can tell, this does not have any hanging teeth like structures. Sava: I thought this was a Ramaria,
but Hericium seems a much better match because of what you found about the spores.
The Hericium thing is quite variable.
Ruzica and I found it twice last weekend on Mt Adams
(http://mushroomobserver.org/111795?q=iGOr); the two finds looked different,
but at least they both had "teeth".
Galbi: Is it possible that this is a Hericium ramosum
I would describe this specimen has having comb like teeth rather than hanging teeth.
Hericium abietis has hanging teeth. Hericium ramosum has standing teeth

Dick B: Here's a picture of a young Hericium that has few if any hanging teeth.
I'm thinking that yours is just younger that we are used to seeing and
therefore didn't recognize right away.
That is except for our budding Hericium expert Don Moore



Disk B: Was there any hardwoods like cottonwood where you found this Hericium.
If so it could be H. ramosum (now called coralloides) as you suggest.
One of fruiting bodies on the log where I took the picture was a
little more mature and did have some hanging teeth.

Elmer: We were high up on a ridge so I do not think there were any cottonwoods.
As I recall, most of the trees were conifers,
but there were also some other types of trees.
The characteristics of Hericium ramosum do seem to match what I have.
Thanks for your help and comments.
It is an interesting challenge trying to get everything to match.
Thanks again for your help and patience.