Seasonal Blahs

Day 71: The seasonal Blahs have come on in a massive wave, at least along a 100-foot stretch of the Bud Blancher Trail in Eatonville. I have never seen them in such abundance as where they blanketed a section of the embankment, erupting from the moss in large clusters similar to this one, and spaced only six inches to a foot apart over a three-foot width of ground. Were they stimulated by an increase in light exposure due to the cutting back of brush? And why just that one area? And why so MANY? Ramaria acrisiccescens, aka "Blah Coral," is arguably one of our most common coral fungi, its pale tendrils emerging in the cooler months of late autumn and winter. It is often found in association with Hemlock. Why "Blah?" The jury is out as to its edibility, but it has been reported to be tasteless and insipid by those who have tried it.

Mac Is Back!

Day 200: I've been checking every few days for the last two weeks. Mac is back! My "pet" Corallorhiza maculata in the back yard is all of an inch tall. So far, only one stem has poked through the ground, but I'm hoping for more with good reason: I believe I may have identified this particular plant's mycorrhizal associate. C. maculata is a mycoheterotroph, and as such is a bit less discriminating than some of the rarer species. It associates with a wider range of fungi, as opposed to C. trifida or C. striata which are more specific in their partnerships. My Mac may be working in tandem with Ramaria acrisiccescens, a common coral fungus which goes by the unlovely common name of "Blah Coral." Last fall, several lines of R. acrisiccescens fruited in her immediate vicinity along the shadowy edge of my wooded strip. Given the abundance of the fungus, Mac may be able to start a family of her own.

Fungal Associates

Day 65: Well, this is an interesting turn-up! My back yard has suddenly sprouted a lavish streak of Ramaria acrisiccescens radiating from...yep, if you've been paying attention in class, you should be able to guess what I'm going to say...the site where Corallorhiza maculata (my pet Coralroot, lovingly known as "Mac") cropped up last spring. While this is not conclusive evidence of a specific fungal association with a mycoheterotrophic plant species, it is certainly suggestive. Both Corallorhiza maculata and Ramaria acrisiccescens are common in Pacific Northwest forests, but until this year, neither appeared in my yard. The line of Ramaria is about twelve feet long, forming a gentle arc with Mac near its apex. There may be more hidden beneath the pile of pruned branches and lawn clippings which are heaped in the woods behind Mac's stronghold. A few other little brown mushrooms are also in evidence, although I believe I've seen them here before. Perhaps they were instrumental in establishing the beginnings of a fungal community which allowed Mac to grow. I may have to stake off a section 20' x 10' as "Local Research Area #1."

Blah Beauty

Day 362: The Pacific Northwest is famous for its diverse Coral fungi. Like the holotype of its brilliant red cousin R. araiospora, the specimen from which Ramaria acrisiccescens was described botanically was collected only a few miles from my house. It is much more abundant than araiospora; in fact, I was compelled to watch where I was walking yesterday to avoid stepping on it. While these examples were hand-sized, others were as large as a gallon milk jug. When seen in the scattered light of sun-fleck forest, the translucent branch tips fairly glow, suggesting that its common name of "Blah Coral" was ascribed to it for its lack of gustatory appeal rather than its aesthetic quality.

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.