Conservation Status: Not of concern
Ramaria stricta is a widespread species that occurs on rotting wood, in the PNW, usually that of conifers. The fruitbodies are small to medium-sized, grade upward from a whitish base to reddish tan lower branches to pale yellowish upper branches, stain brownish overall, and have a distinctive upright habit. Microscopically, the spores are 7--10 x 3.5--5.5 µm and warty, and the cords that extend from the stipe base into the substrate are formed from two different types of hyphae. It is found throughout much of the U.S. and Canada and also in Europe. Several similar species grow on wood in the PNW, including R. apiculata with branch tips blue-green in one form and pale grayish orange in another, and relatively narrow ellipsoid spores, R. concolor, ocher-tan or tan without yellow or greenish yellow colors, R. rubella (= R. acris) with pinkish tan coloration and average spore length shorter than 7.5 µm, and R. tsugina with green stains. None of these has the yellow branch tips and brown bruising reaction of R. stricta or quite as well developed upright habit.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Ramaria stricta in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
CalPhotos: Ramaria stricta photos