Ramaria purpurissima
Sydowia 40: 211. 1988.
Common Name: none
For description see Petersen and Siegel et al.
Solitary to scattered to gregarious on ground, fruiting in fall and early winter. Known from old-growth, mixed conifer forests dominated by Red Fir (Abies magnifica) and White Fir (Abies concolor).
Unknown. Too rare to eat!
This rare coral mushroom can be distinguished by it purplish coloration, lilac-purple to whitish stipe with rusty stains, white flesh, and large size. Ramaria violaceibrunnea is a smaller species with a slenderer upright crown and a distinctly differentiated stipe.
Petersen, R.H. (1987). Contribution toward a monograph of Ramaria. VI. the Ramaria fennica - versatilis complex. Sydowia 40: 197-226.
(Protologue-PDF)
Siegel, N., Vellinga, E.C., Schwarz, C., Castellano, M.A. & Ikeda, D. (2019). A Field Guide to the Rare Fungi of California's National Forests. Bookmobile: Minneapolis, MN. 313 p. (PDF)
Vandegrift, R., Vellinga E. C. & Schwartz, J. (2020) Fungal Diversity Survey, West Coast Rare 10: Ramaria purpurissima. 2 p. (PDF)