Phaeoclavulina abietina
Phaeoclavulina abietina, commonly known as the green-staining coral, is a coral mushroom in the family Gomphaceae. It is characterized by the green staining reaction it develops in response to bruising or injury.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1794 as Clavaria abietina. It is commonly known as the "green-staining coral". It was classified in the genus Ramaria, until molecular phylogenetic showed that Ramaria was polyphyletic.Description
The fruit bodies are leathery, and brittle when dry. They are small, measuring tall by wide, and branch from the central stem up to five times. The slender branches are slightly flattened or spreading, and forked or crested near the top. The color of the fruit body is medium yellow green to light olive, but will bruise a darker olive green to dark olive green. The stem is long and thick; it has a mat of mycelia at its base, which is attached to rhizomorphs that branch into the substrate. The odor of the mushroom tissue ranges from indistinct to earthy, and it tastes initially sweet, then somewhat bitter. The species is inedible.The spores are dark orange-yellow when collected in mass. The spores are pip-shaped to broadly elliptical, with one oblique end; their dimensions are 6–9 by 3.5–4.5 μm. The basidia are typically four-spored, with the spores attached by sterigmata up to 7 μm long.
Similar species
Phaeoclavulina myceliosa is very similar but does not produce a greenish stain.Ramaria apiculata differs in its bright teal tips. Also similar in appearance is R. invalii, which does not stain when bruised.