Field identification of Ramaria is often very difficult, with macromorphological differences being subtle and often intergrading (especially in older fruitbodies).

Ramaria amyloidea is an uncommon but widespread species in the Pacific Northwest, currently known from ~45 localities, with 56 records (Siegel et al. 2019, MyCoPortal 2024). It is believed to be restricted to mature and old growth forest, although many records do not disclose habitat information. It is likely that its habitat is significantly declining in size and quality due to logging and an increase in fire frequency and intensity. Steel et al. (2023) calculated that over 30% of the conifer forests in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains transitioned to non-forest vegetation between 2011-2020 and that between 50-85% of mature forests significantly declined in quality during this time. Extrapolating these data to more northern California into Washington State yields a conservative estimate of a loss / decline of at least 30% of habitat for this species over the past three generations (50 years) and this is continuing into the future. It is suspected that the population will be declining at a similar rate. It is assessed as Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c.

This species is known from the Cascade Range in Washington and Oregon, the northern Rocky Mountains in Idaho, and a single sites in the Coast Range in Oregon and in the Siskiyou Range in California. Most Cascade Range collections come from drier forests on the east side of the Cascade crest.

The population occurs over a widespread area, with some continuous records in the Cascade Range, and some disjunct outliers. Currently it is known from ~45 localities, with 56 records (Siegel et al. 2019, MyCoPortal 2024). Believed to be restricted to mature and old growth forest, although many records do not disclose habitat information. It is likely that its habitat is significantly declining in size and quality due to logging and an increase in fire frequency and intensity. Steel et al. (2023) calculated that over 30% of the conifer forests in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains transitioned to non-forest vegetation between 2011-2020 and that between 50-85% of mature forests significantly declined in quality during this time. Extrapolating these data to more northern California into Washington State yields a conservative estimate of a loss / decline of at least 30% of habitat for this species over the past three generations (50 years), which is continuing into the future. It is suspected that the population of this species will be declining at a similar rate.

This species is ectomycorrhizal with conifers; especially Fir (Abies spp.), Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). It is believed to be restricted to mature and old growth forest, although many records do not disclose habitat information. Fruit bodies are solitary or scattered from ground, fruiting in fall.

This is a ectomycorrhizal fungus species dependent on living host trees for viability. The major threats to this species and its co-occurring co-generic taxa are destruction, via the logging of old growth forests to which this species has a preference for and an increase in fire frequency and intensity. The extent of old growth forest in the Pacific Northwest of North America has declined 90% in the last century (Society of American Foresters 1984, Haynes 1986). Climate change and droughts, along with forest management practices has made western forests highly susceptible to stand replacing forest fires. Fire is big threat to this species’ population. A stand replacing fire could severely degrade and/or diminish its current range.

No use/trade is known.

This species is included on the United States Forest Service Northwest Forest Plan Survey and Manage list of rare/old growth forests dependent fungi, and has been actively surveyed for since the late 1990’s (Castellano et al. 1999). It is included on the Oregon Natural Heritage rare fungi list (Oregon Biodiversity Information Center 2019), as a S3 species, and the Washington Natural Heritage list as a S1 species. Logging or machine clearing of understory should be limited in mature or old growth forest in areas this species in known to occur.

A better understanding of habitat requirements of this species is needed, especially if it is restricted to mature and old growth forests. Continued surveys for this species should be undertaken, especially in the Siskiyou Range in California.