The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Part 92

_Clavaria. Linn._

Clavaria is from _clavus_, a club. This is by far the largest genus in this family, and contains very many edible species, some of which are excellent.

The entire genus is fleshy, either branched or simple; gradually thickening toward the top, resembling a club.

In collecting clavaria special attention should be given to the character of the apices of the branches, color of the branches, color of spores, the taste of the plant, and the character of the place of its growth. This genus is readily recognized, and no one need to hesitate to eat any of the branching forms.

_Clavaria flava. Schaeff._

PALE-YELLOW CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 385.--Clavaria flava. Natural size.]

Flava is from _flavus_, yellow. The plant is rather fragile, white and yellow, two to five inches high, the ma.s.s of branches from two to five inches wide, the trunk thick, much branched. The branches are round, even, smooth, crowded, nearly parallel, pointing upward, whitish or yellowish, with pale yellow tips of tooth-like points. When the plant is old, the yellow tips are likely to be faded, and the whole plant whitish in color. The flesh and the spores are white, and the taste is agreeable.

I have eaten this species since 1890, and I regard it as very good. It is found in woods and gra.s.sy open places. I have found it as early as June and as late as October.

_Clavaria aurea. Pers._

THE GOLDEN CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

This plant grows from three to four inches high. Its trunk is thick, elastic, and its branches are uniformly a deep golden yellow, often longitudinally wrinkled. The branches straight, regularly forked and round.

The stem is stout but thinner than in C. flava. The spores are yellowish and elliptical. It is found in woods during August and September.

_Clavaria botrytes. Pers._

THE RED-TIPPED CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 386.--Clavaria botrytes. One-half natural size.]

Botrytes is from a Greek word meaning a cl.u.s.ter of grapes. This plant differs little from C. flava in size and structure, but it is easily recognized from the red tips of its branches. It is whitish, or yellowish, or pinkish, with its branches red-tipped.

The stem is short, thick, fleshy, whitish, unequal. The branches are often somewhat wrinkled, crowded, repeatedly branched. In older specimens the red tips will be somewhat faded. The spores are white and oblong-elliptical. It is found in woods and open places, during wet weather. I found this plant occasionally near Salem, from July to October, but it is not a common plant in Ohio.

_Clavaria muscoides. Linn._

FORKED YELLOW CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

Muscoides means moss-like. This plant is inclined to be tough, though graceful in growth; slender-stemmed, two or three time forked; smooth; base downy, bright yellow. The branchlets are thin, crescent-shape, acute. The spores are white and nearly round. The plant is usually solitary, not branching as much as some other species; quite dry, very smooth, except at the base, which is downy, in color resembling the yolk of an egg. It is frequently found in damp pastures, especially those skirting a wood.

_Clavaria amethystina. Bull._

THE AMETHYSTINE CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 387.--Clavaria amethystina.]

Amethystina means amethyst in color. This is a remarkably attractive plant and easily recognized by its color. It is sometimes quite small yet often grows from three to five inches high. The color of the entire plant is violet; it is very much branched or almost simple; branches round, even, fragile, smooth, obtuse. The spores are elliptical, pale-ochraceous, sub-transparent, 10-126-7.

This plant is quite common around Chillicothe, and it has a wide distribution over the United States. The specimens in Figure 387 were found in Poke Hollow.

_Clavaria stricta. Pers._

THE STRAIGHT CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

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

Figure 388.--Clavaria stricta.]

Stricta is a participle from _stringo_, to draw together. The plant is very much branched, pale, dull-yellow, becoming brownish when bruised; the stem somewhat thickened; branches very numerous and forked, straight, even, densely pressed, tips pointed. The spores are dark cinnamon. It is found on the Huntington hills near Chillicothe. Look for it in August and September.

_Clavaria pyxidata. Pers._

THE CUP CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 389.--Clavaria pyxidata. Natural size.]

Pyxidata is from _pyxis_, a small box. This plant is quite fragile, waxy, light-tan in color, with a thin main stem, whitish, smooth, variable in length, branching and rebranching, the branches ending in a cup. The spores are white.

It is found on rotten wood and is readily recognized by the cup-like tips. The specimen in Figure 389 was found near Columbus and photographed by Dr. Kellerman. Found from June to October.

_Clavaria abietina. Schum._

THE FIR-WOOD CLAVARIA.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 390.--Clavaria abietina.]

Abietina means fir-wood.

This plant grows in dense tufts, very much branched, ochraceous, trunk somewhat thickened, short, clothed with a white down; branches straight, crowded, longitudinally wrinkled when dry, branchlets straight.

The spores are oval and ochraceous.

It can be readily identified by its changing to green when bruised.

It is very common on our wooded hillsides. It is found from August to October.

_Clavaria spinulosa. Pers._