Clavulina cristata
(or Ramariopsis kunzei)

I found these beautiful coral fungi popping up all around me on the forest floor in early March, in a mixed grove of oak, redwood and Douglas fir. Clavulina cristata differs from the beefier Ramaria corals with its finer growth structure and pure white flesh (which will yellow slightly with age, as visible above.) The species varies greatly in form, and these openly branching specimens resemble another white coral fungus, Ramariopsis kunzei. The Ramariopsis has an elaborate branching structure with no discernable central stalk, like the ones pictured here. However, not clearly visible in this photo, the openly branched form of Clavulina cristata has finely toothed crests at the top of the branches while the Ramariopsis does not. In any case, both species are edible and basically flavorless and textureless. I fried these but I wasn't impressed.