clavariadelphus pistillaris

{{Speciesbox

| image = Clavariadelphus-pistillaris.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_caption =

| genus = Clavariadelphus

| species = pistillaris

| authority = (L.) Donk (1933)

| synonyms = Clavaria pistillaris L.

}}

{{Mycomorphbox

| name = {{PAGENAME}}

| hymeniumType = smooth

| capShape = no

| whichGills = NA

| stipeCharacter = bare

| sporePrintColor = white

| ecologicalType = mycorrhizal

| howEdible = edible

| howEdible2 = unpalatable

}}

Clavariadelphus pistillaris, commonly known as the common club coral,{{cite book |last1=Arora |first1=David |title=Mushrooms demystified: a comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi |date=1986 |publisher=Ten Speed Press |location=Berkeley |isbn=978-0-89815-169-5 |edition=Second}} is a rare species of mushroom of the family Gomphaceae native to Europe and North America.{{Cite web |title=Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Giant Club fungus, identification |url=https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/clavariadelphus-pistillaris.php |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.first-nature.com}}

Taxonomy

The western North American variety is known as C. occidentalis.{{cite book |last1=Trudell |first1=Steve |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WevHvt6Tr8kC |title=Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest |last2=Ammirati |first2=Joe |publisher=Timber Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-88192-935-5 |series=Timber Press Field Guides |location=Portland, OR |pages=239 |language=en}}

Description

The mat and wrinkled fruiting body has the shape of a club with a rounded top. Its length varies between {{Convert|10 and 30|cm|frac=2}} and its width between {{Convert|1 and 5|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}}. 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.{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Michael Wood & Fred |title=California Fungi: Clavariadelphus occidentalis |url=https://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Clavariadelphus_occidentalis.html |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.mykoweb.com}} It has a weak, but pleasant scent.

= Similar species =

Through its appearance it could be mistaken for C. truncatus, a species found in coniferous montane forests.

Habitat and distribution

Native to Europe and North America, the rare species grows during summer and autumn, almost exclusively in beech forest on calcareous soil on litter and woodchips.{{Cite web |title=Common club coral fungus (Clavariadelphus pistillaris) |url=https://www.picturethisai.com/wiki/Clavariadelphus_pistillaris.html |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=PictureThis |language=en}}

Uses

The species is recorded as being edible.{{cite book |last=Phillips |first=Roger |title=Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America |year=2010 |publisher=Firefly Books |location=Buffalo, NY |isbn=978-1-55407-651-2 |page=345}} There have been reports of the mushroom being a "nutraceutical and/or functional food"Pereira, Eliana; Barros, Lillian; Martins, Anabela; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R (Jan 15, 2012). “Towards chemical and nutritional inventory of Portuguese wild edible mushrooms in different habitats”. Food Chemistry. 130(2): 394-403. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.07.057. due to its high antioxidant activity and containing essential fatty acids.Dimitrijevic, Marija V.; Mitic, Violeta D.; Nikolic, Jelena S.; Djordjevic, Aleksandra S.; Mutic, Jelena J.; Jovanovic, Vesna P. Stankov; Stojanovic, Gordana S. (Nov 20, 2018). "First Report about Mineral Content, Fatty Acids Composition and Biological Activities of Four Wild Edible Mushrooms". Chemistry & Biodiversity. 16(2): e1800492. doi:10.1002/cbdv.201800492.

According to one field guide, the americana variety of the species usually does not have enough flesh to make it worthwhile to eat.{{cite book|last=Miller Jr.|first=Orson K.|title=North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi|last2=Miller|first2=Hope H.|publisher=FalconGuide|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7627-3109-1|location=Guilford, CN|pages=343|author-link=Orson K. Miller Jr.}}