Clavariadelphus pistillaris | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Basidiomycota |
Class: | Agaricomycetes |
Order: | Gomphales |
Family: | Clavariadelphaceae |
Genus: | Clavariadelphus |
Species: | C. pistillaris |
Binomial name | |
Clavariadelphus pistillaris | |
Synonyms | |
Clavaria pistillarisL. |
Clavariadelphus pistillaris | |
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![]() | Smooth hymenium |
![]() | No distinct cap |
![]() | Hymenium attachment is not applicable |
![]() | Stipe is bare |
![]() | Spore print is white |
![]() | Ecology is mycorrhizal |
![]() ![]() | Edibility is edible or edible, but unpalatable |
Clavariadelphus pistillaris, commonly known as the common club coral, [1] is a rare species of mushroom of the family Gomphaceae native to Europe and North America.
The western North American variety is known as C. occidentalis. [2]
The mat and wrinkled fruiting body has the shape of a club with a rounded top. Its length varies between 6 and 30 centimetres (2+1⁄2 and 12 in) and its width between 0.8 and 6 cm (1⁄4 and 2+1⁄4 in). [1] The skin is red brown to ocher red, sometimes cinnamon brown with a lilac tint, turning brown when damaged. The spongy flesh is white. The spore print is pale yellow. [3] It has a weak, but pleasant scent. [4]
Through its appearance it could be mistaken for C. truncatus , a species found in coniferous montane forests. C. subfastigiatus is also similar. [1]
Native to Europe and North America, [5] the rare species grows during summer and autumn, almost exclusively in beech forest on calcareous soil on litter and woodchips. [4]
The species is recorded as being edible. [6] There have been reports of the mushroom being a "nutraceutical and/or functional food" [7] due to its high antioxidant activity and containing essential fatty acids. [8]
According to one field guide, the americana variety of the species usually does not have enough flesh to make it worthwhile to eat. [9]