Fleshy Fungi of New Brunswick >> Ramariopsis kunzei

Ramariopsis_kunzei (Fr.) Corner

Scattered (5) in soil and leaf litter, associated with Acer saccharum and Abies balsamea – Nepisiguit Protected Natural Area, Northumberland Co, New Brunswick (11-08-16/07).

Basidiospores white in spore print, spherical to very broadly ovoid, echinulate with scattered spines, without iodine reactions, 2.7-3.6 X 2.6-3.4 μm, Q = 1.00-1.21 (average[33]: 3.2 X 3.0 μm, Q = 1.09)

Ramariopsis kunzei is recognizable in the field by its nearly pure white and dichotomously branched basidiomata having a tomentose stipe. The colourless basidiospores are very small and are marked with short spines. As its name implies, it resembles species of Ramaria; but these differ in their larger brown spores.

Sharp-eyed viewers may have noticed the small fungus-like structures clinging to the stick in the upper right part of the field photo. These are sporangia of Leocarpus fragilis, a slime mould. Click on the sporangia in the picture to get a closeup view.

Photographs: D. Malloch (11-08-16]07).