Clavulina amethystina

Description

Clavulina amethystina is a species of coral fungus in the family Clavulinaceae. The breathtaking violet coral that found in hardwood forest. Identified with macro features only. Another strong candidate is Clavaria zollingeri.

This coral fungus is edible but with low nutritional value.

Mushroom Identification

1. Ecology

   Presumably mycorrhizal; found under conifers and hardwoods; growing alone, scattered, or gregariously - but not in clusters; often in moss or moist areas; summer and fall; the southeastern United States to Massachusetts and Illinois.

2. Fruiting Body

   2-6 cm high; usually moderately and irregularly branched, antlered, or lobed - but sometimes branched sparingly or not at all; when branched up to 4 cm wide.

3. Branches

   Fairly smooth, or finely rugged (but bald); fleshy tan to drab lilac or drab purple; tips colored like the sides, bluntly to sharply pointed or occasionally vaguely "cristate" with sharp points.

4. Base

   Up to about 3 cm long; velvety at the base; colored and textured like the branches.

5. Flesh

   Colored like the surfaces; brittle in the branches and tougher in the stem.

6. Spore Print

   White.

7. Chemical Reactions

   Irons salts negative on branches.

8. Microscopic Features

   Spores 7.5-8.5 x 6-7.5 µ; subglobose or broadly ellipsoid; smooth; with an apiculus. Basidia clavate; 2-sterigmate with long, incurved sterigmata. Clamp connections present.

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Dan Molter (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 2 - Author: Jason Hollinger (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Photo 3 - Author: Mikael Niku (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo 4 - Author: Cowirrie (Public Domain)

Photo 5 - Author: Ian Dodd (CC BY-SA 3.0)