About Ramariopsis kunzei (Fr.) Corner
Fruit bodies of Ramariopsis kunzei are white to whitish-yellow, and form highly branched coral-like structures. They typically grow up to 8 cm (3.1 in) tall and 6 cm (2.4 in) wide, while older fruit bodies may develop a pinkish tinge. The branch tips are blunt, unlike the crested tips found in some other coral fungi such as Clavulina cristata, and individual branches measure 1 to 5 millimeters thick. Mature specimens may have yellow branch tips. When a stem is present, it can grow up to 1 cm (0.4 in) long and has a scurfy surface covered in small flakes or scales. The flesh texture ranges from pliable to brittle. The mushroom has no distinctive odor or taste, and does not change color when bruised or injured. A 10% iron sulfate (FeSO4) solution chemical test will turn the mushroom green. Spore deposits are white. When viewed under a light microscope, spores are translucent, ellipsoid to roughly spherical in shape with surface spines, and measure 3–5.5 by 2.5–4.5 μm. Spores are non-amyloid, meaning they do not absorb iodine when stained with Melzer's reagent. The spore-bearing basidia are usually 25–45 μm long by 6–7 μm wide, and produce 4 spores each. Clamp connections are present in the species' hyphae. Ramariopsis kunzei is thought to be saprobic. It grows on the ground, in plant duff, or less commonly on well-decayed wood. Fruit bodies can grow singly, in scattered groups, or clustered together. David Arora has noted that the species prefers growing under conifers, and is common in North American redwood forests. This contrasts with a claim by an earlier author that the species grows "rarely in coniferous woods." In Europe, this species has been collected in Scotland (specifically the islands of Arran and Gigha, and the Kintyre peninsula), the Netherlands, Norway, former Czechoslovakia, Germany, Poland, and Russia's Zhiguli Mountains. It has also been found in China, India, Iran, the Solomon Islands, and Australia. In North America, its distribution extends north to Canada, and includes the United States (including Hawaii and Puerto Rico).
