Clavulina cristata (Holmsk.) J. Schröt.
Krypt. Fl. Schles. Pilze 442. 1888.

Common Name: none

• Sporocarp

  Fruiting body coralloid, erect, 3-7 cm tall, 2-4 cm broad, branched 3-4 times, tips with short, tooth-like projections; base 2.0 cm tall, consisting of fused branches; surface smooth to slightly wrinkled, white, becoming cream, sometimes tinged yellowish in age, the branch tips typically ochraceous-brown; flesh white to marbled, unchanging; odor and taste mild.

• Spores

  Spores 7-9 x 6-7.5 µm, round, subglobose to broadly elliptical, smooth, nonamyloid; spore print white.

• Habitat

  Scattered to gregarious in soil and duff in hardwood/conifer woods; especially common under pines; fruiting from mid to late winter.

• Edibility

  Edible, but lacking in texture.

• Comments

  Clavulina cristata is a small, white to cream, shrubby, coral fungus with, flattened, multi-toothed branch tips. Some fruitings develop rounded tips mimicking a close relative, Clavulina rugosa. The latter is distinguished by a sparsely branched fruiting body and larger spores: 9-13.5 x 7.5-10 µm.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Michael Wood: Clavulina cristata (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Clavulina cristata (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Clavulina cristata (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Clavulina cristata (CP) -- note the brownish branch tips
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Clavulina cristata (CP)
  • Na Grzyby: Clavulina cristata (D & CP)
  • George Barron's Fungi of Canada (East): Clavulina cristata (D & CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Clavulina cristata (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 641 (D), p. 642 (P)
  • Breitenbach & Kränzlin (vol. 2): sp. 456 (D, I, & CP)
  • Jordan: p. 86 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 402 (D), plate 743 (CP)
  • McKenny et al.: p. 176 (D & CP)
  • Miller: sp. 271 (D & CP)
  • Phillips: p. 292 (D & CP)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)