Ramaria botrytis is an edible species of coral fungus in the family
Gomphaceae. It is commonly known as the clustered coral, the pink-tipped
coral mushroom, or the cauliflower coral. Its robust fruit body can grow
up to 15 cm (6 in) in diameter and 20 cm (8 in) tall, and resembles
some marine coral. Its dense branches, which originate from a stout,
massive base, are swollen at the tips and divided into several small
branchlets. The branches are initially whitish but age to buff or tan,
with tips that are pink to reddish. The flesh is thick and white. The
type species of the genus Ramaria, R. botrytis was first described
scientifically in 1797 by mycologist Christiaan Hendrik Persoon. A
widely distributed species, it is found in North America, North Africa,
central and eastern Europe, Australia, and Asia. Fruit bodies of Ramaria
botrytis are edible, and young specimens have a mild, fruity taste. Some
authors warn of laxative effects in susceptible individuals. The fungus
contains several bioactive compounds, and fruit bodies have
antimicrobial activity against several species and strains of drug-
resistant bacteria that cause disease in humans.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramaria_botrytis>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1903:
The first modern World Series, the annual championship series
of Major League Baseball, opened.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1903_World_Series>
1946:
Mensa, the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world, was
formed in the United Kingdom.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mensa_International>
1961:
Despite strong resistance from the U.S. Armed Forces, the
Defense Intelligence Agency (seal pictured) was formed, becoming the
country's main global military espionage organization.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Intelligence_Agency>
1987:
Denmark became the first country to legalise civil unions
between same-sex couples.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Denmark>
2005:
Terrorist suicide bombs exploded at two sites in Bali,
Indonesia, killing twenty people and injuring over 120 others.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Bali_bombings>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
wherenot:
Other related places, wherever; as in, to Bagdad, China, and wherenot.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wherenot>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Jefferson refused to pin his hopes on the occasional success of
honest and unambitious men; on the contrary, the great danger was that
philosophers would be lulled into complacence by the accidental rise of
a Franklin or a Washington. Any government which made the welfare of men
depend on the character of their governors was an illusion.
--Daniel J. Boorstin
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Daniel_J._Boorstin>