Clavaria fragilis :Fr.
Beata Ruris Otia Fungis Danicis 1: 7. 1790.
Common Name: fairy fingers
Synonym: Clavaria vermicularis Sw.
Fruiting body 3-9 cm tall, 2-4 mm thick, simple, branches rounded to flattened in cross-section, often curved, tapering to a blunt or pointed tip; surface smooth, white, becoming yellowish in age especially at the tips; flesh white, fragile.
Spores 4.5-7 x 2.5-4.0 µm, elliptical, smooth; spore print white.
Solitary, clustered, or in groups on soil or duff in mixed hardwood-conifer woods; fruiting from late fall to mid-winter.
Edible, but unsubstantial.
The white spaghetti-like strands of Clavaria fragilis, make it among the easiest of coral fungi to recognize. Collecting it, however, can be a challenge due to its brittle nature. Related small, generally unbranched coral fungi include Clavaria fumosa, grey in color, and like C. fragilis, may fruit in clusters; Clavaria purpurea, is a beautiful, purplish to lilac-brown, clustered species, uncommon in our area; Clavulinopsis laeticolor is yellowish-orange, has a mild taste, and is one of our most commonly encountered fairy-clubs; Clavulinopsis fusiformis is similar to Clavulinopsis laeticolor, but usually is yellower, has a bitter taste, and clustered fruitings are typically fused at the base.
Arora, D. (1986). Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 959 p.
Breitenbach, J. & Kränzlin, F. (1986). Fungi of Switzerland. Volume 2: Non-Gilled Fungi. Verlag Mykologia: Luzern, Switzerland. 412 p.
Coker, W.C. (1974). The Club and Coral Mushrooms (Clavarias) of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications, Inc: New York, NY. 209 p.
Corner, E.J.H. (1950). A Monograph of Clavaria and Allied Genera. Oxford University Press: London, England. 740 p.
Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. & Stevens, F.A. (2015). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 p.
Doty, M.S. (1944). Clavaria, the Species Known form Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State College: Corvallis, OR. 91 p.
Ellis, M.B. & Ellis, J.P. (1990). Fungi without Gills (Hymenomycetes and Gasteromycetes). Chapman and Hall: London, England. 329 p.
Siegel, N. & Schwarz, C. (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.
