The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Part 93

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 391.--Clavaria spinulosa.]

Spinulosa means spiny or full of spines.

The trunk of this plant is rather short and thick, at least one-half to one inch thick, whitish. The branches are elongated, crowded, tense and straight; attenuated, tapering upward; color somewhat cinnamon-brown throughout.

The spores are elliptical, yellowish-brown, 11-135.

It is usually given as found under pine trees, but I find it about Chillicothe in mixed woods, in which there are no pine trees at all. It is found after frequent rains, from August to October. As an edible, it is fairly good.

_Clavaria formosa. Pers._

BEAUTIFUL CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 392.--Clavaria formosa. Three-fourths its natural size.]

Formosa is from _formosus_, meaning finely formed.

This plant is two to six inches high, trunk rather thick, often over an inch in thickness; whitish, or yellowish, elastic, the branches numerous, crowded, elongated, divided at the ends into yellow branchlets, which are thin, straight, obtuse or toothed.

The spores are elongated-oval, rough, buff-colored, 168.

This is an extremely beautiful plant, very tender or brittle. When the plant is quite young, just coming through the ground, the tips of the branches are often of a bright red or pink. This bright color soon fades, leaving the entire plant a light yellow in color.

The plant has a wide distribution, and is found on the ground in the woods, frequently growing in rows. While the handsomest of the Clavarias, it is not the best, and only the tender parts of the plant should be used. It is found from July to October. The specimen in Figure 392 was found in Poke Hollow.

_Clavaria cristata. Pers._

THE CRESTED CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Figure 393.--Clavaria cristata.]

Cristata is from _cristatus_, crested. This is a smaller plant than the C. flava or C. botrytes. It is usually two to three inches high, white or whitish, the tufts of broad flattened branches, sometimes tinged with a dull pink or creamy-yellow. The branches are numerous, widened and flattened above, deeply cut into several finger-like points, sometimes so numerous as to give it a crested appearance. This peculiar characteristic distinguishes it from C. coralloides. When the plant is old the tips usually turn brown.

Sometimes a form will be found in which the crested appearance is wanting, and in that case the branches terminate in blunt points. The stem is short and inclined to be spongy.

It is found in the woods, in cool, moist, shady places. While it is tougher than some of the other species, if cut fine and well cooked it is very good. I have eaten it for years. It is found from June to October.

_Clavaria coronata. Schw._

THE CROWNED CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Figure 394.--Clavaria coronata.]

Pale yellow, then fawn color; divided immediately from the base and very much branched; the branches divergent and compressed or angulate, the final branchlets truncate-obtuse at apex and there encircled with a crown of minute processes. _Morgan_.

This plant is found on decayed wood. It is repeatedly branched in twos and forms cl.u.s.ters sometimes several inches in height. It resembles in form C. pyxidata, but it is quite a distinct species. In some localities it is found quite frequently. It is plentiful about Chillicothe. Found from July to October.

_Clavaria vermicularis. Scop._

WHITE-TUFTED CLAVARIA.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Figure 395.--Clavaria vermicularis.]

Small, two to three inches high; caespitose, fragile, white, club-shaped; clubs stuffed, simple, cylindrical, subulate.

Found on lawns, short pastures or in paths in woods. Someone has said they "look like a little bundle of candles." Edible, but too small to gather. June and July.

_Clavaria crispula. Fr._

FLEXUOUS CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

Very much branched, tan-colored, then ochraceous; trunk slender, villous, rooting; branches flexuous, having many divisions, branches of the same color, divaricating, fragile.

The spores are creamy-yellow, slightly elliptical. This plant is slightly acrid to the taste and retains a faint trace of acridity even after it is cooked. It is very plentiful in our woods. Found from July to October.

_Clavaria Kunzei. Fr._

KUNZE'S CLAVARIA.

Rather fragile, very much branched from the slender caespitose base; white; branches elongated, crowded, repeatedly forked, subfastigiate, even, equal; axils compressed. Specimens were found on Cemetery Hill under beech trees, and identified by Dr. Herbst. The spores are yellowish.

_Clavaria cinerea. Bull._

ASH-COLORED CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

Cinerea, pertaining to ashes. This is a small plant, growing in groups, frequently in rows, under beech trees. The color is gray or ashy; it is quite fragile; stem thick, short, very much branched, with the branches thickened, somewhat wrinkled, rather obtuse. Its gray color will distinguish it from the other Clavaria.

_Clavaria pistillaris. L._

INDIAN-CLUB CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 396.--Clavaria pistillaris. One-half natural size.]

Pistillaris is from _pistillum_, a pestle.