Contents
Clavulina coral-like (horntail comb) is listed in biological reference books under the Latin name Clavulina coralloides. Agaricomycetes belong to the Clavulinaceae family.
What do clavulins look like?
Comb horns have an exotic appearance. These representatives of the mushroom kingdom resemble corals in shape, hence the name of the species. The color of the fruiting body is white or light beige with fawn, dark brown tops.
External characteristic:
- The fruit body does not have a clear division into a stem and a cap, it is strongly branched at the base, the trunks are flat, up to 1 cm wide, ending in a shapeless ridge.
Branching of the fruiting body can be compact or deployed
- Numerous processes of ridges of different thickness and length with pointed tops, which contrast with the general coloration, they have a well-defined dark color.
- The structure of the fruiting body is hollow, brittle, adult specimens at the highest point can reach 10 cm.
- The leg of the hornwort is short and thick, it rises above the soil surface within 5 cm.
- The coloration at the base is darker than near the branching, the structure is fibrous, the inner part is solid.
- The surface of the entire fruit body is smooth, with a glossy tint.
- The spore powder is colored white.
Instances with repeating shapes are almost never found, each of them is unique
Where do Clavulins grow?
Mushrooms of this species are not tied to a specific climatic zone; clavulina can be found both in warm and temperate zones. It grows on the trunks of fallen trees in dense groups. It lives on deciduous and coniferous litter of mixed forests singly or scattered, forming a few colonies in the form of “witch circles”. Rarely settles in open glades located in the depths of forests. The main fruiting period occurs at the end of summer and lasts until September-October.
Is it possible to eat coral clavulins
The flesh of these representatives of the mushroom kingdom is fragile, odorless, the taste can be neutral, but bitterness is more often present. Officially, the comb-shaped horned mushroom is classified as an inedible mushroom. There are no toxins in the chemical composition, so some sources indicate that consumption is allowed. The nutritional quality of coral clavulina is very low. In addition to the exotic appearance, it is of no value and is not in demand among mushroom pickers.
How to distinguish staghorn clavulina
Clavulina coralline has an external resemblance to several mushrooms, one of them is beautiful ramaria. There are specimens 2 times higher and larger in diameter than comb-shaped horns. It differs in multi-colored color, the base is whitish, the middle is pink, the top has an ocher tint. When pressed, the damaged area quickly darkens.
The upper part of the ramaria is presented in the form of short and thick processes.
Clavulina wrinkled is a conditionally edible variety. The branching is weak, the processes are thick at the ends and do not form ridges. The surface is light gray or white with numerous large wrinkles.
Sometimes acquires a horn-like shape with rounded blunt tops
Clavulina ash-gray is often found in Eastern Siberia, bears fruit from late summer until the first frost. Forms numerous families. The fruiting body is branched, with chaotically directed processes, with brightly or darkly colored tops, the ridge is absent.
The color is never white, it differs from its family in the color of all shades of gray
Conclusion
Clavulina coralline is characterized by an extensive distribution area and abundant fruiting. It grows singly – in a bunch or forms colonies from early August to late September. It is an inedible mushroom with low nutritional value. It can be found in open areas among low grass, on moss and leafy litter, and also forms dense groups on the trunks of fallen trees.
