Ramaria gigantea f. tenuispora
R.H. Petersen (1988)
A small, compact ochraceous‑tan coral fungus with ascending branches, off‑white digitate apices, and a pallid, naked stipe. All tissues bruise walnut brown to black‑brown.
Fruitbody: Compact, arbuscular, to 55 x 30 mm, erect to ascending. Stipe to 8 x 3 mm, abruptly rounded and naked at the base, pallid (not white), fibrous‑fleshy.
Branch: 2-3, ascending, terete. Branches ascending, tan to ochraceous-tan when young, quickly darkening with spores to light brown or yellowish light brown. Axils narrowly rounded; internodes gradually diminishing. Hymenium amphigenous, at least on the upper branches.
Apices: digitate, rounded to mitten‑shaped, ofxwhite, slowly becoming concolourous with branches.
Bruising reactions: All parts bruise dark brown (“walnut‑brown”), then black‑brown on handling or cutting.
Odour/taste: Odour negligible; taste weakly bitter.
Common name: None
Habitat: Nothofagus and Myrtaceae forests.
Substrate: Soil
Distribution:
New Zealand
Season: Autumn to early winter
Biostatus: Endemic to New Zealand
Edible: No
Spore print: Tan