Ramaria Acrisiccescens, "Blah Coral"

Day 9: "Blah Coral." Yes, that is the common name of this fungus, a coral often found in Pacific Northwest evergreen forests. It's easy to see why it got the name "Blah." The colour is unremarkable: a uniform light tan which ages to brown. Interestingly enough, the holotype of this species (Ramaria acrisiccescens) was collected in 1966 just a few miles south of my home, followed a year later by holotype collection of another Ramaria (R. araiospora) in the same locale. Older specimens may exhibit abundant dichotomous branching, i.e., each leg splitting into two parts, then into two again, up to nine times. Its Latin nomenclature reflects its unsuitability for the table: "acri-" defining its sharp (acrid) taste and "-siccescens" (pronounced "sick-essence") speaks to the dryness of the flesh. While some corals are edible, this one is just...blah.