White Coral Fungus

The fruit bodies, which are generally white- to cream-colored, can be up to 8 centimetres (3+1⁄8 in) tall, and 2.5–4 cm (1–1+5⁄8 in) broad. The coral "arms" are sparingly branched (3–4 times), 2–4 mm wide, smooth, and sometimes wrinkled longitudinally. The tips are cristate, having small pointed projections, and will often darken with age or in dry weather. The stems vary in form and can be 5–40 mm (1⁄4–1+1⁄2 in) long and 5–20 mm wide. The fruit bodies have no distinctive odor, and a mild taste. The fruit bodies may have a darker color either due to natural variation (whereby the appearance of this species may approach and be confused with C. cinerea) or because of infection by a microscopic fungus, Helminthosphaeria clavariarum.

Microscopic features. The spores are white, roughly spherical, thick-walled, non-amyloid, smooth, and have dimensions of 7–11 by 6–10 μm. Basidia are club-shaped, 60–80 by 6–8 μm, and 2-spored. Cystidia are absent. Sterigmata, the slender projections of the basidium that bear the spores, may be straight or curved, and up to 7–8 μm long. Microscopic and molecular analysis indicate that the species is related to chanterelles.

Chemistry. In addition to the major fatty acid components, palmitic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid, C. …

Clavulina cristata is found growing solitary or in clusters on the ground (sometimes on rotten wood) in both coniferous and hardwood forests in temperate areas of the Americas (October–March on the west coast of North America and July–October further inland) and Europe (June–November). It is a common mushroom, and typically fruits from late summer to winter.

This fungus is edible, but the tough flesh and insubstantial fruit bodies make it unappetizing to some individuals. It is considered excellent by some.